Translations by Pearl

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: You've brought an awfully large amount of baggage with you. What exactly is inside that cart?

Yoshino: ......!

The exact moment my pulse quickened and I shrank my body as tight as humanly possible inside the burlap sack—

Kagetoki: Ah, so the reinforcements have arrived.

(This voice...... Kagetoki-san!)

The moment his low voice reached my ears, I regained my composure to a degree that surprised even myself.

Kagetoki: I have been informed that this single cart contains their equipment, while those other two carts are provisions sent directly from my master.

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: Provisions?

Kagetoki: Food. And, from what I understand, alcohol.

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: Oh! Well, that's a massive help.

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: Sneaking around and hiding out in a place like this, I was just thinking what a massive pain it is that we can't get our hands on any alcohol or women.

Kagetoki: That is truly a pity.

Kagetoki: My master stated that he wishes to raise everyone's morale. What do you say to holding a banquet, serving also as a welcome for the newcomers?

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: I suppose that works. It's not like I can keep it all to myself anyway. Alright, I'll go let everyone know.

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: You greenhorns, go ahead and haul the baggage in wherever fits. Anyone caught skimming from the supplies gets killed.

Accompanying the crude voice, the sound of footsteps faded into the distance......

Kagetoki: Yoshino.

(......!)

The opening of the burlap sack was pulled apart, and the moonlight spilled inside.

Kagetoki: That was quite a skillful performance as a piece of luggage.

Yoshino: ......I am glad to hear it. As expected, you are entirely skilled at lying yourself, Kagetoki-san.

Staring into his mischievous eyes, a strange surge of energy welled up within me, giving me the strength to shoot a sarcastic retort right back at him.

Kagetoki: The real performance begins now.

Kagetoki: Once the battle commences, you will move alongside me and tend to the wounded soldiers as the situation demands.

Yoshino: I understand...... Um, what about the villagers?

Kagetoki: I have already entrusted a brief message to one of the village women who was being forced to cook for the soldiers.

Kagetoki: Once we reduce the enemy numbers, they will be left with no choice but to abandon their surveillance over the villagers. I instructed them to seize the right opportunity to evacuate.

(Incredible as always...... Not much time should have passed since Kagetoki-san infiltrated the village.)

Though his subordinates remained entirely silent, expressions of unmitigated admiration were visible on their faces.

Kagetoki: That being said, they will undoubtedly be attacked by the enemy during the evacuation, and casualties will inevitably occur.

Kagetoki: I ordered them to leave any individuals who become unable to move inside a certain shed within the village.

Kagetoki: Yoshino. Rescuing them is your responsibility.

Kagetoki: I will deliver you to that shed in the midst of the battle. Can you manage it?

Yoshino: I will do it.

Kagetoki: Thank you for such an agreeable response. Answering with whether you will do a task, rather than whether you are capable of it, is so very like you.

(Since Kagetoki-san placed his faith in me and entrusted me with this, all that's left for me to do is see it through to the absolute end.)

Kagetoki proceeded to issue a rapid succession of orders to his subordinates as well, until there was nothing left to do but wait for the battle to commence.

Not long after that......

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: Everyone! Tonight is a grand feast courtesy of the nobles!

Low-Ranking Soldier 2: Ohh!

Several dozen low-ranking soldiers sat in scattered spots of their own choosing, sake cups in hand.

Among them were Kagetoki and his subordinates.

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: Hey, you. Since you're here, do you want to say a few words?

Having been put on the spot, Kagetoki lightly raised his cup.

Kagetoki: There is little point in a boorish speech.

Kagetoki: Let us wish for our victory and drain our cups in a single breath.

Low-Ranking Soldier 2: Now that's a damn fine speech for a noble!

At Kagetoki's words, offered with a faint smile, the low-ranking soldiers tossed back their drinks all at once.

And then—it was several hours later that the anomaly finally occurred.

Low-Ranking Soldier 3: ......? What's with this alcohol? It's hitting me incredibly fast......

Low-Ranking Soldier 4: Dammit, my head is getting all fuzzy too......

Kagetoki: .........

Among the soldiers who had begun to stagger, one finally collapsed, as if completely losing his balance.

Low-Ranking Soldier 5: Ah, hey!

The footing of the man who frantically attempted to stand up was entirely unsteady as well.

Kagetoki: It would be best not to force yourself.

Low-Ranking Soldier 6: ......? Something is wrong. You......

Kagetoki: How did you find the taste of the sleeping medication formulated by our apothecary?

Low-Ranking Soldier 6: Wh......!

Kagetoki: Those who managed to fall asleep are the fortunate ones. Everything will be over before they ever know terror.

Before the remaining low-ranking soldiers who had realized the anomaly, Kagetoki emptied the contents of his own cup—which he hadn't touched a single drop of—onto the ground.

Using the falling cup as a signal, Kagetoki's subordinates drew their swords all at once.

Kagetoki: Now—for the sake of 'our' victory.

Kagetoki's Subordinates: Oohhhhhh!

(The battle has finally begun......!)

Peeking out softly from the cart where I had been hiding at the sound of the commotion leaking through, I could see the soldiers clashing in the village square right before my eyes.

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: Curse you! Enemy attack, enemy attack—!

At the enemy's desperate shouts, the low-ranking soldiers who had been resting in various spots around the village came rushing out.

Kagetoki: Archers, move forward—Cavalry, secure the horses immediately.

(......Kagetoki-san!)

A rain of arrows poured down upon the fleeing enemy.

The soldiers who had already confirmed the location of the stables beforehand under Kagetoki-san's instructions seized the horses in the blink of an eye.

(I remember Kagetoki-san mentioning it.)

(Even if our numbers are few, soldiers on horseback possess significantly higher mobility on that basis alone, and it makes it difficult for the enemy's swords to reach them.)

Thanks to the horse brought over by his subordinates, Kagetoki-san was now mounted as well.

And after issuing some sort of instruction to his men, he galloped in a straight line directly toward me.

Kagetoki: Yoshino, get on.

Yoshino: Yes!

As I hurriedly ran over to him, Kagetoki-san lifted me up and placed me right in front of him on the horse.

Kagetoki: We are moving. Take care not to bite your tongue.

Cutting through the wind, the horse plunged directly into the center of the square.

(Looking at things like this, even though we reduced their numbers with the sleeping medication, the enemy's strength is still incredibly vast......)

Kagetoki's Subordinate 1: Kagetoki-sama! As per your orders, we are breaking through the enemy's right flank.

Kagetoki: Splendid. With our current numbers, it is best to avoid a pincer attack entirely.

Kagetoki: Utilize the cliffs lined up toward the northeast and deploy our formation in a way that prevents the enemy from easily flanking us.

Kagetoki's Subordinate 1: Understood!

The moment the subordinate who received the instruction moved out to act as a messenger, the soldiers followed suit with a perfectly orchestrated movement.

(It's almost as if invisible threads are connecting Kagetoki-san to every single one of his subordinates.)

Even though this battle commenced only after Kagetoki-san's grand design completely disrupted the enemy's military strength—

—As several hours passed, the fatigue of the soldiers who continued to fight with so few men became visibly pronounced.

Kagetoki's Subordinate 2: Kagetoki-sama...... Are you certain about this? If we enter the mountains, our horses will completely lose their mobility, but......

Kagetoki: Through our initial disruption, we managed to roughly shave down the enemy's military strength.

Kagetoki: From this point onward, we will shift our movements to anticipate a war of attrition.

(Kagetoki-san doesn't seem panicked in the slightest......)

As the enemy soldiers pursued us into our retreat in the mountains, the soldiers in the front row of our unit fired off arrows, bravely slashing into the fray.

Kagetoki-san watched the scene unfold from the rear with a razor-sharp gaze.

Kagetoki: On this slope, whoever secures the high ground holds the advantage. Even if the enemy possesses the advantage of numbers, it means absolutely nothing in such a narrow path.

Kagetoki: Wounded soldiers in need of treatment, fall back to the rear row. You over there, and you.

At Kagetoki-san's voice, the two soldiers jolted, their shoulders trembling.

(......Looking very closely, both of them are indeed bleeding.)

(In the middle of this chaotic melee, I'm amazed Kagetoki-san even noticed.)

Yoshino: I will treat you! Right this way.

Nodding to Kagetoki-san, I dismounted the horse and immediately began staunching the blood.

(The people of the village...... I wonder if they've managed to evacuate safely.)

Even after that, the fires of battle continued to burn fiercely—

—And it was quite a while later that Kagetoki-san and I were finally able to rush to the side of the injured villagers.

Villager 1: A-are we going to die here......?

Yoshino: You're going to be fine, I have done everything humanly possible to treat you! As soon as the battle concludes, we will call for help.

I threw words of encouragement with absolutely all of my strength toward the terrified villagers.

Villager 2: Ah...... Thank you so much, thank you so much.

Kagetoki: It is time. Yoshino.

Yoshino: ......! Yes!

Feeling a deep pang of reluctance, I stepped outside the shed.

And then—

Yoshino: Kagetoki-san! Over there......

Kagetoki: I see it. It is a rather unfavorable situation.

There was a villager, seemingly injured, who was staggering precariously in our direction.

However, before we could even approach them, one of the low-ranking soldiers pursuing from behind swung his sword up, his eyes entirely bloodshot.

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: Hey, where do you think you're going! Damn it all, every single one of you—

(Stop!)

Kagetoki: ......! —

Clicking his tongue softly, Kagetoki-san placed his hand onto the hilt of his sword and lunged forward—the exact moment he did.

???: Keep your damn hands off the women and children!

Someone else leaped into the fray from an entirely different direction at that very same moment, slashing fiercely at the soldier.

Benkei: —You disgust me, you absolute piece of scum.

(This person!)

Kagetok, Benkei: ......!

Having his sword sent flying far into the distance, the low-ranking soldier collapsed hard against the ground.

Paying absolutely no mind to him, the newly arrived individual—Musashibou Benkei—and Kagetoki-san locked eyes.

The weapons they concurrently thrust at each other's throats flashed aggressively under the reflection of the moonlight.

Benkei: Kagetoki!? Why the hell are you here......

Kagetoki: ......Benkei.

(What on earth is going to happen!? I never heard anything about the rebel army being involved in this......)

Benkei: Whatever. I don't have a single second to waste listening to a word you have to say.

Kagetoki: I suppose trying to reason with you would be entirely futile.

As they stared each other down, the atmosphere between the two tightened to an absolute breaking point.

Right before it was about to rupture—

Yoshino: ......Wait a moment!

Benkei, Kagetoki: ......!

At my desperate shout, the movements of the two men gripping their weapons froze instantly.

Yoshino: Benkei-san...... I don't know your circumstances, but please, prioritize treating this person's injuries right now!

Yoshino: Since you protected the villager too, Benkei-san, that means we shouldn't be enemies at this very moment......

Benkei: ......

Benkei-san's eyes, blazing with an intense, flickering flame, burned right through my entire body.

(......!)

Benkei: Fine. You're that apothecary, right?

Yoshino: ......Yes!

Letting out a breath of relief, I rushed over to the villager's side and examined the severity of their wound.

(Thank goodness, it's not a fatal injury.)

Wrapping a cloth tightly to staunch the blood, I had them head inside the shed.

The exact moment the villager vanished from sight, a volatile atmosphere enveloped Benkei-san and Kagetoki-san once more.

(That's right. These two definitely looked like this on that night I first saw them in Kamakura, too—)

..

Benkei: You bastard...... Kajiwara Kagetoki!

Benkei: Since you've shown that ugly face of yours in front of me, I take it you're fully prepared to die?

Kagetoki: You certainly bark as loudly as ever, Musashibou Benkei.

Benkei: Shut your damn mouth, you piece of scum.

..

(That's right. It completely looked as though there was some sort of deep, bitter history between these two.)

Benkei: I'll listen to what you have to say, at the very least. What the hell were you people doing here?

Kagetoki: A suspicious force was in the process of making preparations within Kyoto, so I was attempting to dispose of them.

Kagetoki: After all, the rebel elements hostile to the Shogunate are more than enough with just you lot around.

Kagetoki: And with that—Benkei, shall we hear your side of the story?

Benkei: I don't have a story to tell. I only came to Kyoto a few days ago for scouting purposes.

Benkei: However, I happened to catch sight of armed men heading toward this village by pure chance.

Kagetoki: Don't tell me you infiltrated the perimeter all by yourself on that basis alone? That is an exceptionally short-sighted tale.

Benkei: I didn't ask for your evaluation. If I had missed that window of opportunity, gaining entry to the village would have been incredibly difficult.

Kagetoki: So you committed such a reckless act purely because you possessed the self-confidence to protect your own skin and escape should the worst occur.

Kagetoki: Regrettably, I am left with no choice but to say that your self-assessment was entirely overblown.

Benkei: Ah?

(Kagetoki-san......! Provoking him this much is going to......)

Kagetoki: You failed to take into account your own disposition, wherein the sheer depth of your compassion becomes a literal shackle.

Kagetoki: As a result, you found yourself unable to abandon the villagers, and you have remained stuck in this village up until now, waiting for an opportunity.

Kagetoki: Is that not roughly how the story goes?

Yoshino: Does that mean you deliberately chose to stay behind instead of escaping because you were worried about the villagers......?

Benkei: ........

Within Benkei-san's sullen eyes, a scorching, white-hot fire was housed—forming a stark contrast to Kagetoki-san.

Benkei: It's nothing as beautifully clean as being worried.

Benkei: When I entered the village disguised as a traveling monk, the villagers didn't show a single shred of suspicion; they welcomed me into their homes and fed me gruel.

Benkei: It was immediately after that that those low-ranking soldiers trampled over the dignity of the defenseless villagers while laughing in their faces.

Kagetoki: Do you intend to claim this is a matter of repaying a debt for a night's lodging and a single meal?

Benkei: I return what I receive. And besides—

Benkei: When I look at lowlife bastards like that, I get an unbearable, nauseating ache right in the middle of my chest.

(Benkei-san...... truly possesses a powerful sense of justice.)

Kagetoki: You are as predictable as always, Benkei. I utterly despise that exact side of you.

(Kagetoki-san?)

My eyes widened at his unusually emotional choice of words.

Benkei: ......Being loathed by you is an absolute blessing. I'll raise a celebratory toast to it later.

In response, Benkei-san distorted his lips as well, as if pushing down the pain of an invisible wound.

Benkei: At any rate, I am going to beat those bastards to a pulp with my own two hands. I stayed behind with that exact decision made.

Benkei: Therefore, I—

..

Tracing back to several hours prior.

Benkei was mingled among the villagers who had been confined inside a battered barn.

Benkei: Everyone, is your physical condition holding up alright?

Villager 3: Y-yes.

In addition to tending to the low-ranking soldiers' horses and handling various chores, the confined villagers had been forced into hard labor—erecting defensive fences around the perimeter of the village and clearing a mountain path for an armed unit to pass through.

Villager 4: ......Benkei-san. If you were by yourself, you could escape from this place, couldn't you? Please, leave without paying any mind to us.

Villager 5: He's right. You are nothing more than a traveling stranger who happened to visit this place by pure chance, yet you have protected us from those men so many times.

Benkei: I've already set foot on this ship. Just consider me a meddlesome fool and let me do as I please.

At that exact moment, the door swung open violently, and everyone fell completely silent in surprise.

Lookout Soldier: It's mealtime. Hurry up and eat.

A single village woman stepped inside, her head cast downward, and began to distribute the low-ranking soldiers' leftover food to everyone.

Lookout Soldier: Pick up the pace.

The exact moment the door was shut, the woman whispered in a hushed, stifled voice.

Village Woman: ......Everyone, listen to me closely. Help has arrived.

Benkei: Help?

..

Kagetoki: Taking advantage of the commotion we caused, you retrieved your own weapon......

Kagetoki: And fought strictly to allow the villagers to escape—is that the gist of it?

Kagetoki: Allowing personal feelings to consume your time in the middle of a mission is an entirely predictable, wasteful move on your part, Benkei.

(Ah—)

Without uttering a single word, Benkei-san grabbed Kagetoki-san by the collar and brought his face close.

Benkei: —Don't you dare talk about what's predictable for me. Not unless you want that smooth tongue of yours ripped straight out of your mouth.

An aura of violence that couldn't possibly be contained emanated from his massive frame.

Kagetoki: ......

I watched anxiously, fully expecting him to shoot right back with another sarcastic remark, but......

Remaining completely passive, Kagetoki-san merely stared back at Benkei-san with an air of total apathy.

(What is going to happen? Something feels entirely different from the usual Kagetoki-san.)

Kagetoki: This marks the second time you have grabbed me by the collar, does it not?

Benkei: ......!

(The second time?)

Benkei: I forgot.

Seemingly thrown completely off his stride, Benkei-san released his grip on Kagetoki-san.

Benkei: ......Returning to the subject. Regardless of whether my movements were wasteful or not, my mission has already been accomplished.

Benkei: As long as I explain the circumstances, Yoshitsune-sama will completely understand a minor delay in my return.

Benkei: Unlike you or your lord, he is an incredibly compassionate individual.

(......Kagetoki-san isn't entirely devoid of compassion.)

Recalling the moment he had informed me that he simply establishes a set of priorities, I bit down on my lip out of pure frustration.

Kagetoki: I must commend you and your lord for your immense troubles.

Benkei: If you're trying to pick a fight with me, I still have plenty of room to take you up on it.

Kagetoki: No.

Exhaling a small breath, Kagetoki-san locked his gaze onto Benkei-san.

Kagetoki: —Benkei. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Lend me your strength until we bring this battle to an absolute conclusion.

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 13

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In order to spend my final moments all alone, I had made my way to the gazebo in the courtyard.

The full moon had not yet risen to its absolute peak in the sky.

I decided to sit down on the bench and pass the brief amount of borrowed time I had left.

..

Mitsuki: So you're going to become a professional musician.

Wolfgang: Yeah.

Wolfgang: ......I want to deliver my music to countless people.

Wolfgang: I want to create the ultimate music, the kind that transcends national borders and eras entirely.

..

Recalling the conversation I had shared with Wolfgang right here, I gently closed my eyes.

Mitsuki: I wish I could have listened to the piece Wolfgang wrote for me at the very end......

???: Then you should simply stay alive.

(......!)

At the sound of the familiar voice, I whirled around in a blind panic.

There, standing right before me, was Wolfgang, looking as though he had run all the way here.

Mitsuki: Why are you here......

Wolfgang: Why am I here? What on earth are you thinking?

Quietly interrogating me, Wolfgang looked angrier than I had ever seen him before.

Wolfgang: ......I heard everything from Sebastian.

Wolfgang: The true purpose behind bringing us to this mansion, and exactly what is going to happen to your body tonight.

Mitsuki: ......I see.

The very moment I averted my eyes—Wolfgang grabbed my arm with an intense force.

Mitsuki: Ow—

Wolfgang: ......Bite me.

Wolfgang: That is the only way left for you to save yourself.

Mitsuki: W-well, but...... if I do that, you'll become a vampire too, Wolfgang.

Wolfgang: And?

Mitsuki: ......Living through a vast stretch of time is a painful thing. I know that truth more than enough to loathe it.

(Saying you'll 'become a vampire'...... isn't a choice you should make just by giving in to a fleeting emotion.)

(I don't want to steal away Wolfgang's future, nor do I ever want him to face any regrets.)

Wolfgang: I don't care.

Wolfgang: If it means losing you right here and now, I will gladly discard my existence as a human without a second thought.

Mitsuki: Why would you go that far—

Before I could finish my sentence—before I even knew what was happening, Wolfgang had pulled me into a fierce, breathless embrace.

Wolfgang: That much should be obvious.

Wolfgang: It is because I love you.

(......!)

The words, delivered with absolute, unwavering directness, made me feel as if the breath had been completely stolen from my lungs.

Yet immediately after, I realized that Wolfgang's arms—the ones holding me so tight—were trembling ever so slightly.

(I...... I was entirely ignoring Wolfgang's feelings.)

(Having someone who was right by your side silently leave you behind is an incredibly painful, terrifying thing.)

(And yet, even though I must have experienced that exact pain countless times myself—)

Warm tears welled up and began to steadily trace a path down my cheeks.

Mitsuki: I'm...... I'm so sorry......

Wolfgang: Honestly. But I won't accept your apology.

Wolfgang: Instead, prepare yourself to be made happy by me.

Mitsuki: Eh......?

Wolfgang gently pressed down against my shoulders.

As I was pinned down onto the bench, Wolfgang leaned over me, completely blocking out the night sky from my field of vision to look into my face.

Wolfgang: For a vampire, biting someone is equivalent to making a vow of love.

Wolfgang: That is what you were implying earlier, right?

Mitsuki: ......Yeah......

Staring into those violet eyes, I couldn't move an inch, as if I had been completely entranced by them.

Wolfgang: Therefore...... this is essentially a marriage proposal.

Wolfgang: I will never let you say you're lonely ever again. Spend the vast stretch of time ahead alongside me.

(Wolfgang......)

A profound warmth rushed through my chest, giving way to an almost suffocating tenderness.

Mitsuki: W-well, but—

(Is this truly all right......? This is something completely irreversible, and yet......)

The scales were already tipping toward what I truly, deeply desired.

The rational thoughts that had barely been holding me back were completely shattered by Wolfgang's words.

Wolfgang: I will absolutely never regret this. —Bite me.

Wolfgang's eyes grew red, brimming slightly with tears.

He wanted so desperately not to lose me—that raw, intense desire was entirely visible in his gaze.

(......It's no use. I can't resist him any longer.)

I had been dreaming of living alongside Wolfgang this entire time.

Every single time I listened to the sound of his piano, or whenever he fixed his gaze upon me, this suffocating tenderness had only grown stronger.

Mitsuki: W-well...... I'm sorry. I want to live alongside you too, Wolfgang.

Looping both of my arms around Wolfgang's neck, I gently pulled him close—

And sank my fangs deep into his throat.

Wolfgang: ......!

Past Wolfgang's shoulder, I could see the full moon reaching its absolute peak in the sky.

However, there was no strange anomaly occurring within my body.

The sweet, intoxicating nectar flowing past my lips, combined with Wolfgang's heavy weight pressing down on me, had anchored my failing life to this world.

Wolfgang: ......Ha...... Ah......

As Wolfgang's ragged breaths brushed against my ear, a sweet, aching throb pulsed through the very depths of my chest.

(......Is it painful for him? Or is it—)

Since I had never been bitten by anyone myself, I only understood that sensation as a piece of abstract knowledge.

Perhaps I should have pulled my lips away, but under the absolute bliss that was saturating my entire body and soul, my rationality refused to function.

Wrapping my arms tightly around Wolfgang's back, I sank my fangs even deeper into him—

—

The next day—

I woke up lying inside my very own bed.

Wolfgang: ......Are you all right?

Mitsuki: ......! Why are you here, Wolfgang......?

Wolfgang: Do you remember what happened yesterday?

(......What exactly did I do after that......? If I recall, we were at the gazebo......)

Tracing back through my hazy memories of what followed after I bit him, I sat up in bed.

As I did, Wolfgang sat down on the edge of the mattress and gently touched my cheek.

Wolfgang: ......Last night, you lost consciousness at the gazebo.

Wolfgang: Sebastian told me that because your consciousness was anchored right as your flame was on the verge of expiring, the sudden strain simply took a heavy toll on you.

(......So that's what happened......)

Mitsuki: Thank you for worrying about me.

Mitsuki: But...... are you holding up all right, Wolfgang? Have you noticed any major changes in your body......?

Wolfgang: I'm perfectly fine. The sun and crucifixes don't bother me at all, and I don't feel much different from when I was a human.

As Wolfgang offered me a gentle smile to put my mind at ease, my chest ached with a deep sense of guilt.

Mitsuki: But you won't be able to go out into the town and live in a single place for very long anymore.

Mitsuki: Because the way you age and the length of your life are entirely different now, you won't be able to interact with fellow humans for extended periods.

Wolfgang: Well, I suppose that's true.

Mitsuki: ......Do you truly have no regrets?

Wolfgang: None.

Mitsuki: What about your dream of succeeding as a professional musician......?

Wolfgang: I haven't given up on it.

Wolfgang: It is my strict policy to obtain absolutely everything I desire.

The moment Wolfgang declared that with absolute certainty, he pulled my body into a tight embrace.

(......!)

Wolfgang: In short, it simply means I cannot allow the public to catch wind of the fact that I am a vampire. I will handle it smoothly.

Wolfgang: Even if you do not worry—even if you do not try to shoulder all of the responsibility—everything will be fine.

(......Wolfgang really is such an incredible person......)

With a single phrase, he is able to brush away my anxiety, my guilt, and absolutely everything else.

(......I, too, should place my faith in Wolfgang's future and support him with everything I have.)

Wolfgang: Besides...... for your information, I didn't become a vampire without giving it any thought.

Wolfgang: I had fully intended to convey my feelings to you from the very beginning.

Mitsuki: Eh......?

Wolfgang: My plan was to return to the town for a brief period, finish the musical score, and then make my way back to this mansion.

Wolfgang: Not because I was dragged to this place against my will and left with no choice but to accept becoming a vampire—

Wolfgang: But to properly communicate to you that I wished to choose the path of living alongside you of my own volition.

(......So that's how it was......)

Learning a truth I had known nothing about, a profound warmth spread through my chest.

(If we had parted ways just like that, with Wolfgang remaining entirely unaware that I was going to fade away......)

(It would have brought him nothing but immense sorrow.)

Mitsuki: ......Hey, there is something that I still haven't properly told you yet, Wolfgang.

Wolfgang: What is it?

Mitsuki: I love you, too. I imagined what it would be like if I could live alongside you so many times.

Wolfgang: Mitsuki......

(......I was finally able to confide in him.)

Mitsuki: It feels almost like a dream. To think that we truly get to live our lives together from here on out.

As I let out a soft chuckle from a faint sense of embarrassment, a kiss descended upon my lips.

Wolfgang: This is no dream.

Mitsuki: Truly......?

Wolfgang: Well then, shall we test it to be sure?

With those words serving as a signal, our lips overlapped once more, without either of us needing to prompt the other.

(......This is definitely not a dream.)

The sheer warmth radiating throughout my entire body told me everything I needed to know.

As our tongues tangled and I found myself drowning in a melting kiss—

Without warning, Wolfgang pinned me down onto the sheets.

Mitsuki: Wolfgang?

When I called out his name, he looked down at me with eyes that had grown distinctly feverish.

Wolfgang: For some time now, I've been feeling an intense urge to bite you.

Wolfgang: ......Is this because I've become a vampire?

Mitsuki: W-well, yes...... Probably, I think.

Being pinned under a gaze that practically bled raw passion made my very heart tremble.

Wolfgang: If I bite you, nothing bad will happen to your body?

Mitsuki: Um...... I think it should be fine.

(I've never been bitten by another vampire before, so I can't know for certain, but most likely.)

Wolfgang: I see. Good.

Murmuring with an air of relief, Wolfgang stole another kiss from my lips.

Mitsuki: Nnh......

Parting my lips, his hot tongue slid inside without a moment's delay.

Finding myself entirely at the mercy of a kiss far more urgent than before, I felt as if I were on the absolute verge of melting away.

Mitsuki: Hah......

With practiced ease, Wolfgang's fingers began to undo the buttons of my blouse one by one.

Anticipating what was about to happen, my pulse quickened to an almost unbearable speed.

Mitsuki: Um, wait a moment......!

Instinctively, I pressed my hands against Wolfgang's chest to bring him to a halt.

Wolfgang: ......It's all right. I won't bite you in a way that causes you any distress.

Wolfgang: Or would you prefer it to hurt?

Whispering those words against my skin, Wolfgang traced his fingertips along my newly exposed collarbone.

Mitsuki: Nnh......

A thrilling, sweet sensation shot straight down my spine, causing my body to twist beneath him automatically.

Witnessing my reaction, a distinctly teasing, almost sadistic smile played upon Wolfgang's lips.

Wolfgang: ......Come on, tell me what you want me to do to you.

Wolfgang: I'll bite you exactly the way you like.

Offer it all to me. Your body, your soul—and your destiny.

Having intertwined their fates, the two now fall deeply into love.

Wolfgang: Let me see more of that face.

(Honestly, pretending he's the only one completely unbothered here......)

Gently taking Wolfgang's hand, I brought it up directly to my lips.

Wolfgang: Mitsuki......?

Paying no attention to Wolfgang as he stared back at me in complete confusion, I lightly bit down on his finger by way of revenge.

Wolfgang: ......!

The exact moment Wolfgang's brows knit together from a sharp spike of pleasure, a sweet, intoxicating nectar welled up from the tiny wound.

When I brushed it away with the tip of my tongue, a ragged breath escaped from Wolfgang's lips.

(......Right now, Wolfgang is experiencing the exact same sensation I felt just a moment ago......)

Wolfgang: Ugh...... Any more than this is entirely out of the question.

Wolfgang: It makes me want to absolutely unravel you.

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IkeVamp Masterlist

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Mai: Will you die with me......?

Mitsunari: ......!

A burning heat flared behind my eyelids like a boiling wave, and tears spilled over as I forced a gentle smile for Mitsunari-kun.

Mai: Please...... Mitsunari-kun.

Mitsunari: ......Is that truly all right?

Large drops finally overflowed from the amethyst eyes reflecting my image, wetting his pale cheeks—

Mitsunari: ......Is it truly all right for me to die right alongside you?

Mitsunari: Even though I swore an oath to protect you, Mai-sama?

(Ah....... What a crushing burden I've been forcing Mitsunari-kun to carry all this time.)

The usual commanding expression he wore while confidently directing a battlefield had completely vanished, his eyes now wavering like a lost child's.

Mai: I'm so sorry, I really didn't want to make such a horrific request of you......

Mai: By all accounts, I should be telling you to keep on living and find happiness, even if it's without me......

(Mitsunari-kun isn't the only one straying from the path of righteousness. A dark, twisted evil exists deep within my own soul as well.)

I was forced to realize that a desire this utterly self-centered had taken root in my own heart.

Mitsunari: No, you are mistaken...... I do not find it horrific in the slightest.

Mitsunari: You cannot possibly imagine how much joy this brings to my heart......

Mitsunari: How deeply...... how profoundly I am filled with absolute happiness.

As if a sudden wave of tension had finally broken, all the stiffness drained out of Mitsunari-kun's shoulders.

(Under normal circumstances, Mitsunari-kun would have never let someone like Kicho-san manipulate him.)

(But the sheer terror of losing me drove him to choose betrayal.)

I simply couldn't bear to watch Mitsunari-kun writhe in that agonizing suffering for another second.

Mai: Please...... protect my heart, not just my life.

Mitsunari: Mai-sama.

With unsteady steps, Mitsunari-kun came to a halt right in front of me.

Unable to hold back any longer, I threw myself against his chest, and his arms wrapped securely around my back.

(Because of me, this incredible warmth might eventually be lost forever.)

The mere thought of it felt far more terrifying than the idea of simply vanishing from this world all by myself.

Even so, there was no turning back now.

Mai: I'm so sorry for constantly depending on you. I'm sorry for dragging you into this.

Mai: But as long as you're with me, Mitsunari-kun, I don't want to give up on living.

Mai: I want to grow old alongside you and spend the rest of my days by your side.

Even if I survived by becoming a grim reaper, a future without Mitsunari-kun would only mean a broken existence with one of my wings torn away.

Just imagining a world where he wasn't by my side made my heart violently constrict.

Mitsunari: I do not wish to give up either. No, I refuse to give up.

Mitsunari: I shall stake my very life on finding a path for us to live together.

Mitsunari-kun looked down at my face in his arms, his gaze intense and unwavering.

Mitsunari: ......I am so sorry, Mai-sama. I have finally awoken from my nightmare.

Mitsunari: Even though I knew exactly how much you would suffer because of my choice...... I chose to avert my eyes.

Mitsunari: All just to prioritize my own desires...... It seems I am a terribly selfish person after all.

His voice was heavy with regret as he pulled me into an even tighter embrace.

(He's finally back to himself......)

(I was the one backing him into a corner this entire time.)

Placing my hand against his cheek, I looked up into his beautiful, violet eyes.

Mai: I think I might be the more selfish one here. I never imagined I'd ever utter the words 'die with me' in my entire life.

Mitsunari: In that case, it appears we are both quite selfish.

Mai: Hehe...... I suppose you're right.

A fresh wave of tears spilled over even as I smiled.

(I really don't want to lose him. I absolutely want Mitsunari-kun to live.)

(And in order for that to happen, I have to survive too. I won't let myself die.)

Mitsunari: Mai-sama...... Look at the sky.

Mai: Eh? Ah......

Looking up, the rain clouds had begun to drift away, and a soft, gentle sunlight poured down upon us.

(The sun has finally risen......)

Squinting his eyes against the brightness, Mitsunari-kun looked up.

Mitsunari: Until now, I believed that completely shutting down Kicho-dono and his faction's schemes was an impossibility in the short term.

Mitsunari: However, no matter how difficult it may prove to be, I must see it through to the end.

Illuminated by the morning sun, Mitsunari-kun's profile radiated a newfound strength to move forward.

(With the way Mitsunari-kun is right now, I know he can do it.)

Mai: Even if it's difficult, it's definitely not impossible. You have an incredible gift for analyzing things deeply, after all.

Mitsunari: You are quite right, analyzing things is my specialty. The sheer terror of losing you caused me to forget even that.

Just then, the loud neighing of a horse echoed out—

Kicho: So here you are, Mitsunari.

Motonari: Looks like the princess who ran away is with you, too.

Reining in their galloping horses, the two of them turned their mounts directly toward us.

Mitsunari: Mai-sama, get behind me.

Mai: Okay!

The moment I did exactly as I was told, Kicho-san fixed his gaze intently on Mitsunari-kun.

Kicho: What are you doing? Come with us, Mitsunari.

Mitsunari: No, I shall not go with you.

Mitsunari: I have resolved that I will never take your hands again.

Motonari: Hah? Did the princess completely wrap you around her little finger?

Motonari: If you're gonna betray the Oda army just to protect a woman, you'd better see it through to the bitter end.

Kicho: If you do not, Mai will die.

Mitsunari: Yes. And when that time comes, I shall die right alongside her.

Kicho, Motonari: ......

(Mitsunari-kun isn't flinching in the slightest.)

Wearing an almost perilously serene smile, Mitsunari-kun looked down at me.

Mitsunari: My life rests entirely with you, now and forever. —This love alone shall never fade away.

There wasn't a single hint of deception in his voice, his unfiltered emotions striking a chord deep in my chest.

(I can believe in absolutely everything he says.)

Kicho: ......Forever, is it? What a terribly bleak word.

Kicho: In that case, you are no longer of any use to us.

(Ah......!)

The very instant all the color drained from my face at the sight of Kicho-san pulling out his gun—

Keiji: Meddling in a moment like that is about as classless as it gets!

An iron spear hurled from the depths of the forest completely knocked the gun straight out of Kicho-san's hand.

Mai: Keiji......!

Motonari: Tsk. They caught up to us?

Masamune: Hey, I'd stop looking away if I were you.

Charging in on his horse from the opposite path, Masamune advanced with his bare blade unsheathed, lunging directly at Motonari-san.

Motonari: Ugh!

Masamune: You should've focused on making your escape while you were busy running your mouth.

Drawing his sword at the absolute last second, Motonari-san parried Masamune's blade as the two fractured apart, creating distance while glaring each other down.

Kicho: Motonari, pull back. There is no need to settle our score with the Oda army here. We shall finish this eventually.

Motonari: Hah? Guess we've got no choice.

Masamune: What's the matter? Suddenly value your life?

Motonari: Dealing with the One-Eyed Dragon is a massive pain in the neck, after all.

Without a moment's hesitation, Kicho-san and Motonari-san spurred their horses forward, racing toward the edge of a nearby cliff.

(Eh, no way......)

With a powerful leap, the horses kicked off into midair as if soaring through the sky, carrying the two men down along the treacherous side of the mountain.

Keiji: Damn, jumping from this height is unreal. Even the great Keiji-sama is impressed.

Masamune: Mai, Mitsunari, you two aren't hurt, are you?

Mitsunari: Yes. You are uninjured as well, aren't you, Mai-sama?

Mai: Yeah...... Whew......

Exhaling the breath I'd been holding in, I leaned against Mitsunari-kun without even thinking.

Mitsunari: Mai-sama!

Mai: I'm okay, the tension just finally left my body......

Mitsunari-kun had finally come back to me.

Holding that wonderful reality close to my chest, I closed my eyes, completely wrapped in his warmth.

(I was so relieved that I must have fallen asleep without even realizing it.)

I was placed onto Mitsunari-kun's horse, and we made our way back to the Oda army's campsite with everyone else.

I have memories up until that point, but everything after that cuts off completely.

(Where is Mitsunari-kun......?)

As I pushed myself up from the makeshift futon, the curtain at the entrance swayed open.

Mitsunari: It appears you have awoken, Mai-sama.

His eyes softening with a gentle warmth, Mitsunari-kun approached my side and leaned close to me.

Mitsunari: How are you feeling?

Mai: Thanks to getting some sound sleep, I'm full of energy. How long was I out?

Mitsunari: The sun is currently setting, so I believe it has been roughly six hours.

(About six hours...... I can't believe I slept for that long.)

Mitsunari: You must have been terribly exhausted. It is perfect timing, as I have brought some food for you.

Inside the bowl on the dining tray was steaming hot porridge and a side of pickles.

Mai: Wait, did you carry this all the way here yourself, Mitsunari-kun?

(Not a single drop spilled, but how in the world did he manage that?)

When I blinked my eyes in utter astonishment, he offered a bright, radiant smile in return.

Mitsunari: Hehe, I did my absolute best because I wanted so badly for you to eat. I do not believe I have ever walked with such extreme caution in my entire life.

Mai: So that's how it was, thank you. I actually just started to get hungry.

Mitsunari: In that case, please, go ahead and eat.

(Eh?)

Sitting down right beside me, Mitsunari-kun scooped up some porridge with a spoon and brought it directly to my lips.

Mai: Wait, I can eat by myself, you know?

Mitsunari: No, I caused you an immense amount of trouble, so please allow me to do at least this much for you.

(Ugh...... It's incredibly embarrassing, but when he puts it like that, it's really hard to turn him down.)

Mitsunari: Ah, I completely forgot to blow on it first.

Mitsunari: Hoo...... hoo...... There, I believe it has cooled down to a perfectly manageable temperature now.

(Yep, there it is—that final, irresistible angelic smile. Time to surrender.)

Mai: Well then, thank you for the food.

Opening my mouth wide to take a mouthful of the porridge, a soothing warmth began to spread deep within my body.

Mai: It's absolutely delicious.

Mitsunari: I am so glad.

Just as Mitsunari-kun was happily scooping up the next bite of porridge—

Masamune: If you two keep eating like that, it's gonna be pitch-black night by the time you're finished.

Keiji: Come on, what's wrong with that? Being all lovey-dovey is a beautiful thing.

(W-wah......! They caught us at the worst possible moment.)

Flipping the tent flap open with wry smiles, the two of them stepped inside.

Masamune: Mai, your color looks good and you seem to have a healthy appetite.

Mai: Yeah, thanks to all of you. Thank you both so much for going out of your way to rescue me.

Keiji: Helping out a comrade is just second nature, isn't it?

Keiji: Besides, we managed to get both you and Mitsunari back safely. Don't sweat it.

Mitsunari: However, I have committed a crime for which there is no excuse. I am truly sorry.

Mitsunari: I have absolutely no intention of stopping my efforts to thwart Kicho-dono and his faction's schemes, but—

Mitsunari: I am fully prepared to accept my punishment the moment we return to Azuchi.

(Mitsunari-kun......)

(Even if he had a reason, it doesn't change the fact that he technically committed betrayal......)

As I wavered over what I could possibly say to comfort him, Masamune let out an amused chuckle.

Masamune: Yep, that's Hideyoshi for you. He really knows you inside and out.

Mitsunari: Eh......

Keiji: Didn't I tell you earlier that Hideyoshi was the one who asked us to look out for you? Back then, he said......

..

Hideyoshi: Even if Mitsunari makes a suspicious move, I want you to treat it as though he is acting strictly under my secret orders.

Hideyoshi: I will take full responsibility. I'm counting on the two of you to look after him.

..

Mitsunari: To think that Hideyoshi-sama would say such a thing......

(I can really feel just how deeply Hideyoshi-san treasures Mitsunari-kun.)

Masamune: Mitsunari, we don't have time for you to sit around obsessing over betrayal or whatever else.

Masamune: Our top priority is stopping Kicho and Motonari. More than anything, you possess the caliber of a general who can save countless lives.

Masamune: Once you make your decision, we'll back you up with absolutely everything we've got.

Keiji: You got that right. Didn't Mai tell me about it before? The words you used when you won over those breakaway daimyos.

Keiji: You said, 'Even if a person commits an error, they should always be able to start over,' right?

Keiji: So lay it on us. How do you want us to move?

(Masamune...... Keiji......)

Mitsunari-kun tucked his chin in firmly, facing the two of them with absolute resolve.

Mitsunari: .......Thank you so much. In order to execute the strategy I am formulating, I shall need everyone's strength.

Mitsunari: Mai-sama, and naturally, your strength as well.

—

A few days later—

Mitsunari-kun and I visited a temple nestled deep within the mountains.

Mitsunari: First, I must apologize for barging in so suddenly, Kennyo-dono.

Mai: I-it has been a long time.

Kennyo: What business do you have with me, Ishida Mitsunari?

Kennyo: And why have you brought Mai along as well?

His dark, shadow-colored eyes glared daggers at Mitsunari-kun.

(M-his bloodlust is absolutely terrifying.)

Once before, I had been kidnapped by this man and treated as a hostage.

Mitsunari-kun rescued me, and Kennyo-san was ultimately captured.

However, in order to bring the war to a bloodless end, Nobunaga-sama and Mitsunari-kun released him, and his whereabouts had been unknown ever since.

But for this current situation, we asked Mitsuhide-san to track down his location, which is how the two of us were able to come see him today.

Kennyo: Kennyo-san, I was the one who begged Mitsunari-kun to let me accompany him.

Mai: Won't you please just listen to what we have to say?

Twisting the scar on his face into a grimace, Kennyo-san let out a heavy sigh.

Kennyo: ......Is this regarding Kicho?

Mitsunari: As I thought, it appears you were indeed aware of Kicho-dono and Motonari-dono's plans.

Mitsunari: Inferring that you do not look upon their scheme favorably, we have come here today to negotiate with you.

Kennyo: What makes you think that?

Mitsunari: A war-torn world that never ends will only threaten the innocent followers and common folk.

Mitsunari: There is no way you would approve of that, Kennyo-dono. To prevent the flames of war from spreading any further, won't you please lend us your strength?

(Mitsunari-kun knows deep down that Kennyo-san isn't an evil person.)

From what I had learned back when I was kidnapped, Kennyo-san was terrifying, but he was also a man who harbored a hidden gentleness for the vulnerable.

He had simply turned into a demon driven entirely by vengeance because he lost so many of his comrades in his conflict with Nobunaga-sama.

(Right before we came here, Mitsunari-kun told me......)

..

Mitsunari: The probability of Kennyo-dono cooperating with the Oda army is incredibly low, given his deep-seated hatred for Nobunaga-sama.

Mitsunari: Instead, proposing a truce to the Uesugi and Takeda forces and seeking their cooperation might yield a far better result.

Mai: Will the Uesugi and Takeda forces actually agree to that?

(It feels like it would be just as difficult as convincing Kennyo-san, though.)

..

Mitsunari: Currently, the Uesugi and Takeda clans are having a terrible time dealing with internal rebellions that broke out within their own territories.

Mitsunari: If that issue can be guided toward a resolution with our assistance, it may create room for them to join hands with the Oda army.

Mitsunari: Even so, negotiating with Shingen-dono, who still holds a bitter grudge against Nobunaga-sama, will certainly be no simple task.

Mitsunari: Even if we quell the rebellion and buy their gratitude, there is absolutely no guarantee they will return the favor.

Mitsunari: Nevertheless, in order to counter Kicho-dono and Motonari-dono's schemes, we shall require an immense amount of strength.

..

(That's why we didn't give up and came to ask Kennyo-san to fight alongside us, but......)

Kennyo: ........

(It really doesn't look like he's going to accept, does it?)

Just as the heavy silence was beginning to feel suffocating—

???: Pardon me, I have brought some tea.

Carrying a dining tray with teacups on it, a young boy stepped into the room.

His large, glittering eyes were cast downward with a strange sense of melancholy for some reason.

Mitsunari: It has been a long time, Ranmaru-san.

Ranmaru: ........

(Eh, Ranmaru...... as in, Nobunaga-sama's page?)

(I'm pretty sure he was mentioned in the travel guide before it completely turned blank, too.)

In contrast to Mitsunari-kun, who maintained his calm and gentle demeanor, Ranmaru-san knit his brows tightly together.

Ranmaru: You don't seem surprised to see me here, Mitsunari-sama.

Mitsunari: Yes, because I have already heard about your situation from Mitsuhide-san.

Ranmaru: Then aren't you furious at me for being a spy for the Ikko Sect?

Mitsunari: Why would I be? I am well aware that you truly regarded us as your comrades, Ranmaru-san.

Mitsunari: I am certain you had your own reasons.

Ranmaru: ......!

(A spy...... so he was undercover all along.)

(Even though he was deceived, Mitsunari-kun doesn't hold a grudge at all.)

Mitsunari-kun directed a deeply compassionate gaze toward Ranmaru-san.

Mitsunari: Everyone has something they hold dear. To protect it, a person might end up hurting someone else, even if they do not wish to.

Mitsunari: The ones we treasure can make us weak just as easily as they make us strong. They can even become the catalyst that causes us to be swallowed by the terror of loss.

Mitsunari: ......And yet, such entirely natural emotions were something I only understood as mere academic knowledge until now.

Ranmaru: Mitsunari-sama......

The words flowing from Mitsunari-kun weighed heavily on my heart.

(This time, Mitsunari-kun actually betrayed the Oda army.)

(The sheer amount of inner turmoil he faced back then might have been far greater than I could ever imagine.)

Kennyo: Ishida Mitsunari...... have you changed somewhat?

Mitsunari: ......Have I? I am not entirely certain myself.

Ranmaru: I think you've changed too. Could it be because of this lady's influence?

Mai: Eh, me?

Kennyo: Most likely. This one possesses a far sturdier spine than your average woman, after all.

Kennyo: ......It seems you two are exerting a positive influence on one another.

(Ah...... Did he just flash a tiny smile just now?)

Quickly tightening his relaxed features back into a serious expression, Kennyo-san faced Mitsunari-kun.

Kennyo: You stated that you came here to negotiate. Name your desire.

Mitsunari: Very well. First, I would like you to inform Shingen-dono that the Ikko Sect followers under your guidance shall be reinforcing the Uesugi and Takeda forces.

Mitsunari: If you do so, the tides of this conflict should shift drastically.

Kennyo: ......So be it.

(W-wah, really?)

Ranmaru: Kennyo-sama, are you certain about this?

Ranmaru-san gasped, his large eyes widening with a sudden spark.

Kennyo: Mitsunari, I owe you a debt.

Kennyo: More than anything, I can no longer stand by and watch any more needless corpses pile up across the land of Hinomoto.

(Incredible.......! Kennyo-san actually accepted. With this, the situation should finally start moving forward.)

Mitsunari: Thank you so very much, Kennyo-dono.

Straightening his posture, Mitsunari-kun bowed his head deeply.

His eyes were powerful, beautifully clear and brimming with resolve.

Mitsunari: I give you my word that I shall emerge victorious in this war.

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Blissful Ending Chapter 15

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Current Level of Corruption—20%.

While taking a walk to inspect the bustling markets of the Kingdom of Lelouch—

(Oh. Could that be......)

My eyes were instantly stolen by the merchandise displayed at a storefront we were passing by.

Seeing this, Clavis-san, who had been escorting me, suddenly leaned his face close and whispered right against my ear.

Clavis: Quite irresistible, isn't it?

Emma: ......!

The sultry tone of his voice, entirely unsuited for the middle of the day, sent a jolt through me, causing me to reflexively cover my ear with my hand.

(I can't believe he noticed.)

(That I was just thinking about how startled someone would be if that fell right on top of their head......)

Emma: ......Lately, no matter what I look at, all I can think about is whether or not it could be used for a trap.

While I felt conflicted over my own transformation, a look of pure delight washed over Clavis-san's handsome face.

Clavis: Splendid. I knew all along that you had the aptitude for this......

Clavis: How does it feel to have stepped over to "this side"?

Emma: I'm still a long way off from reaching your level, Clavis-san.

Clavis: Watching you lately, I highly doubt that, you know?

(It's true that my head has been completely filled with ideas for what kinds of traps to set lately.)

(Almost as if I'm trying to compete with Clavis-san......)

..

It all started with a conversation we had a few days ago.

Clavis: Don't you ever feel like you want to spring more traps on me?

Emma: Eh?

Emma: Where is this coming from all of a sudden?

Clavis: On my birthday, you always go all out celebrating me with traps, don't you?

Clavis: But traps are meant to be a much more casual, everyday part of life.

Emma: I suppose so. ......Thanks to you, Clavis-san, it certainly feels that way.

Clavis: Oh, there is no need for thanks. Adding a touch of excitement to your daily life is my personal pleasure, after all.

Clavis: You don't have to hold back either, you know? It wouldn't bother me in the slightest if you set traps for me as part of your regular routine.

Emma: ......

Emma: I pretty much understand what you're trying to say, Clavis-san.

Emma: But I can't just go around setting traps all the time. Please give up on that idea.

Clavis: Hmm, that is a pity...... Though you are quite adorable when you enter this prickly, absolute defense mode.

Emma: Oh, stop poking my cheek like that...... Hehe.

At that exact moment, what I was actually thinking on the inside was—

..

("I am absolutely going to do it.")

(Setting traps on his birthday is my way of showing him love.)

(The fact that he wants them as part of our regular routine means...... Clavis-san just wants to be loved even more.)

When I stole a glance at him out of the corner of my eye, my gaze collided with his golden eyes, almost as if he had been waiting for me.

Clavis: It seems you're finished reminiscing, Emma?

Emma: ......W-what are you talking about?

Clavis: Haha, if you want to keep it a secret, I won't force it out of you.

Clavis: But when my fiancée is spacing out right beside me, it reflects poorly on my charms.

Clavis: Hold on, this newly formulated perfume will pull your awareness right back to me in an instant—

Emma: I-I'm perfectly fine! I won't look at anyone but you from now on, Clavis-san!

Emma: Besides, if you end up attracting all the people passing us by as well...... I'll get jealous.

(Honestly, what is he thinking, saying things like this right in the middle of a busy street?)

(But I had no choice if I wanted to stop that horrific stench from spreading any further......)

Clavis: With you clinging to me and pleading so sorrowfully, I suppose I have no choice but to postpone the debut of my perfume.

Surely fully aware of my true intentions, Clavis-san tucked the small vial he had pulled out back into his pocket.

Then, he dropped a kiss onto my temple, his lips curving upward into an amused smile.

Clavis: However, I've officially secured your word that you'll "only look at Clavis-san," you know?

Emma: ......Of course.

(I feel like he just played me like a fiddle again.)

When I tightly squeezed the arm I had wrapped through his to close the distance between us, Clavis-san laughed with deep satisfaction.

(I wonder if the day will ever come when I can actually outsmart Clavis-san.)

(Even though I've been setting traps for him every single day since that conversation, my record is zero wins and total defeat.)

A jack-in-the-box, confetti, glowing dishes...... All the various contraptions I had failed with flashed through my mind.

(I remember Cyran-san offered to help me because he couldn't bear to watch me keep losing.)

(And the townspeople too...... even right now.)

(With the sheer intensity in their eyes, they're letting me know they're ready to help me take him down a peg whenever I need it.)

(......But this time, I want to succeed all on my own.)

Clavis: Oops, watch your step.

Emma: Eh—

I instinctively braced myself, but all that lay at my feet was a tiny pebble, and Clavis-san smoothly escorted me past it so I wouldn't step on it.

(I thought it was a pitfall trap......)

Emma: Thank you, that was a big help.

Clavis: Have you fallen for me all over again?

His narrow-eyed smile and his sophisticated behavior were all so incredibly dashing that I found myself nodding honestly.

Emma: Yes...... very much so.

Clavis: ......I see. So utilizing tension and release is effective for bringing out Emma's sweet side......

Seeing Clavis-san analyze me so seriously even while fooling around brought an involuntary smile to my lips.

(Clavis-san loves me from the bottom of his heart.)

(And because of that, I never want this man—who craves being loved more than anyone else—to feel like he isn't getting enough affection.)

Reaffirming my own feelings, I made up my mind.

(It's about time I used my ace in the hole.)

—

One evening after dinner, I stood up from my chair and slipped around behind Clavis-san.

Emma: If it's all right, let me massage your shoulders.

The moment I softly placed my hands on both his shoulders and applied some pressure, a contented sigh escaped his lips.

Clavis: Precise pressure and perfect placement on my acupoints...... You never cease to amaze me, Emma. But what brought on this sudden whim?

Emma: I heard you were incredibly busy today.

Filled with affection, I gently wrapped my arms around his well-proportioned frame from behind, holding him close.

Emma: I simply wanted to show you some appreciation, Clavis-san.

Clavis: ......Honestly, you truly are far too adorable, you know?

Muttering tenderly, Clavis-san turned around, closing the distance between our faces in an instant—

(Now's my chance......!)

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Part 2

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My eyelids felt incredibly heavy.

(Where am I......?)

As I slowly opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a bed in a room I didn't recognize.

(My body feels so heavy.)

I forced myself to sit up, struggling against the lethargy weighing down my entire being.

I tried to get out of bed and stand, but my legs were weak, and I didn't think I could even walk properly.

(They made me breathe something in when I was abducted...... This might be because of that.)

As I leaned against the wall, trying to piece together what had happened before I lost consciousness, my eyes suddenly fell upon the view outside the window—

Kate: Eh......

The view before me was a vast, endless ocean.

(On the sea!?)

I pressed myself against the window to check again, but there was nothing but the dark expanse of the nighttime sea. Just as I realized the floor beneath me was swaying ever so slightly...... the door to the room was thrown open.

Nica: Oh, you’re awake. Morning, Little Robin.

Kate: Nica...... Ring......

Nica: You look terrible. Still feeling the effects of the drug?

Nica pulled me by my arm and guided me back to the bed.

Kate: Where is this? What’s going on......?

Ring: This is a ship owned by the German Army. Dari kidnapped you and brought you here.

Ring closed the door and took a seat in a nearby chair.

Nica: He said he was going to capture a member of Crown, but I never expected him to actually bring Little Robin back with him.

Nica sat on the bed beside me and let out a troubled sigh.

Nica: By the way, did you hear what happened during the drills?

Kate: I heard that the British Army intercepted a German ship and there were casualties......

Nica: Right. A shell fired by the British side ended up hitting one of our German military vessels.

According to Nica, a shell fired by the British Army struck a German vessel that happened to be in its trajectory, resulting in casualties.

Because the rescue efforts were swift, the damage was apparently kept to a minimum. Even so, with dozens of people dead or injured, the scene had descended into absolute chaos.

The likes of Victor and those on the British side attempted to settle the situation, but the German Army refused to listen......

Nica: The person in charge of the military started shouting, asking if this was a declaration of war against Germany.

Nica: So, a war is about to break out right now. It’s pretty bad, right?

Nica: For the time being, there’s a standoff occurring between both countries in the waters around Britain.

Nica: This ship is one of them.

(I had no idea such a thing was happening......)

I was at a loss for words, but then I suddenly remembered how I had doubted Darius just before losing consciousness.

Kate: Is Darius...... involved in this?

At my words, Nica blinked and gave a wry smile.

Nica: You’d think so, wouldn't you? I thought the same thing. But he didn't do anything this time.

Kate: Eh......

As Nica turned his gaze toward him, Ring continued the story with a troubled expression.

Ring: The man who was steering the British ship was sniped and shot through the head right before it happened.

Kate: !?

Ring: Because of that, the trajectory shifted, and the shell ended up hitting the German ship.

Ring: Dari didn't give an order like that. That was likely the work of another faction trying to destroy the relationship between the two countries.

(It wasn't...... Darius's fault......)

I felt a strange sense of anticlimax, but new questions immediately surfaced.

Kate: But if that's the case, who would do such a thing?

The twins exchanged a look at my question.

Nica: .......Maybe someone who wanted to tilt the scales back to where they belong.

Kate: What?

Nica: Nothing. Anyway, it wasn't the German side that did the assassinating.

Nica: If anything, we're the victims here. I think the assassin wanted to pin the responsibility on us.

(Who would do...... something like that......)

The two of them seemed to know something...... but they wouldn't tell me anything more than that.

Ring: ......Dari was aiming for the timing of the military drills to kidnap a member of Crown from the very beginning.

Nica: But what happened during the exercises wasn't part of Dari's plan.

At Nica's words...... I once again regretted having doubted him.

(Considering his past actions, I had no choice but to be suspicious, but still......)

Even though I was the one who told him I wanted to believe in him, I was the first to suspect him.

I gripped my skirt tightly, filled with apology for not being able to trust Darius.

Seeing this, Nica lightly poked my clenched fist with his fingertip.

Nica: Still, to think Dari would give up on a Cursed just to snatch you away.

Nica: What kind of trick did you use to make that happen?

Kate: That’s......

As I told the two of them what had happened, Ring blinked in surprise, while Nica clutched his stomach and began to laugh.

Nica: Ahaha! That’s wild, Little Robin! To do something like that to Dari!

Ring: It’s a miracle you’re safe. Knowing Dari, I honestly thought......

Kate: ......I didn't think I'd make it, either.

I didn't expect Darius to accept an action where I put my life on the line, but I had no choice but to bet on that sliver of hope.

But Darius weighed the custody of the Cursed against my life, and he chose me.

It was an inappropriate situation to feel this way, but that fact made me happy...... and a small smile touched my lips.

Nica: .......

Nica: Little Robin...

Kate: Yes?

Male Voice: Excuse me, sorry to interrupt. Nica, do you have a moment?

Just then, a voice calling for Nica came from outside.

Nica: No, it’s nothing after all. See ya~

Without finishing what he was going to say, Nica left the room.

Ring, who remained, looked a bit awkward, but—

Kate: .......How is Crown doing?

At my question, his expression changed, and he began to speak seriously.

Ring: The three who were attacked are safe. I heard they weren't injured.

Ring: However, Vogel was strongly condemned for what he did to them, and we were forced to leave the palace.

Ring: It’s only natural, I suppose... but there’s no telling what will happen to our diplomatic relations now.

My relief at hearing the three were safe was short-lived as I realized the rift between Crown and Vogel had reached a point of no return.

(What Vogel did...... what Darius did, it can’t be forgiven.)

Even so, I didn't know what could be done to make the situation better.

Ring: I don't think Crown can say much to us or lift a finger against us.

Kate: What do you mean by that?

Ring pointed at me.

Ring: Because you’ve become a hostage.

Kate: Eh......?

As I stared in shock, Ring looked away toward the window and spoke.

Ring: When he kidnapped you, Dari told Crown...

Ring: That if they intervened in Vogel’s business, he would kill you.

Ring: That’s why they can't move. Because they...... care about you.

When I had pressed the knife to my throat, I thought that was the only way to stop Darius's actions.

(I could only think to weigh my life against the release of those three......)

Ring stood up with a slightly apologetic look on his face.

Ring: For now, Crown has been informed that you’re safe.

Ring: But as for whether you’ll be released...... that’s up to Dari.

Following Nica, Ring also left the room...... and I stared vacantly at the closed door.

A sensation like the blood draining from my body and a heavy sense of regret washed over me.

Kate: ......It’s my fault.

The moment I spoke the words, tears nearly spilled over.

..

Darius: Do you have the confidence to remain my pet for the rest of your life?

Darius had asked me that as I held the knife to my throat.

Kate: I... I do.

At that moment, I was so desperate that I nodded instantly, fearing that even a second's hesitation would mean the three of them being taken away.

But......

Darius: Even if I kill you on a whim? Even if I tell you until the day you die that I will never believe in you?

Darius: You might be used as a mere tool for my pleasure, or perhaps become a plaything for many others until your heart and body are broken beyond repair.

Darius: Even then, would you choose the path of self-sacrifice just to protect them?

..

Thinking back on it now, I might have made the wrong choice.

If this is the result of that decision...... then I truly am a fool.

(Darius was right.)

Just as he often said, humans are foolish creatures, and I am finally realizing that I am no exception.

(It’s precisely because everyone cares so much for me that...... they’ve been rendered unable to act.)

Even though we had only known each other for a month, Crown had been so incredibly kind to me.

I, too, had enjoyed the time spent with them so much...... Perhaps letting myself get close to them was my mistake.

I acted to save those three, yet in the end, it only led to a situation that has backed Crown into a corner.

(Was every single thing I did a mistake......?)

Apology, regret, and a sense of utter helplessness rushed over me all at once, and I covered my face.

Even so, the image that flickered behind my eyelids was Darius from that moment—

Darius chose my life; he chose not to throw my life away.

That fact made my heart race despite being in this horrific situation, while simultaneously deepening my guilt toward Crown.

It was agonizing to feel this joy that I couldn't purely celebrate, and I let out a shaky breath.

Suddenly, a loud noise startled me, and I looked up.

(What? What was that sound!?)

A noise like someone punching the walls grew closer and closer, and I—

Kate: I-Is someone there?

???: ......

Kate: ......Is that you, Darius?

???: ......Quiet. Would you mind not calling my name right now? I’m so irritated I can hardly stand it.

The door was thrown open with violent force—and the figure standing there directed a cold, piercing gaze toward me.

Darius: Every single one of my plans has gone up in smoke because of you.

I almost recoiled seeing his expression filled with quiet rage, but I managed to hold my ground and call his name.

Kate: Darius.

He didn't even try to hide his irritation, and his expression only grew more severe at the sound of his name.

Darius: I don't recall giving you permission to speak. Though, if you’re going to speak in something other than human words, be my guest.

Darius: Why don’t you try chirping like that precious little robin you are?

Darius: I’ll kill you the instant I decide you’re being too noisy, though.

Suddenly, I saw the twins behind Darius.

I offered a small prayer that they might do something to break this tension, but Nica simply raised both hands with a light smile, grabbed Ring's arm, and made his exit.

(They ran away......!)

Noticing that my gaze had shifted elsewhere, Darius glared at me.

Darius: Where are you looking when I’m right in front of you?

Kate: Ah...... well, behind you......

Darius: The twins were there. And? Their presence is no excuse for you to take your eyes off me.

Darius strode toward me and gripped my cheek.

Kate: !

Darius: Look at me. I’m the one speaking to you right now.

The obsession in his words filled me with fear, yet at the same time, my heart began to race.

Kate: .......I’ve never looked at anyone but you.

As I stared back into those honey-colored eyes, Darius knit his brows for a fleeting moment before his expression shifted to one of pure exasperation.

Darius: That’s not what I meant, and you don’t need to try and butter me up.

Kate: I’m not trying to butter you up.

Darius: You’ve been brought here as a hostage on a ship with no escape, surrounded by nothing but strangers.

Darius: And yet, when you find me, you wag your tail like you’re happy to see me...... Honestly, it’s a bit repulsive.

(R-Repulsive......)

While I was reeling slightly from the shock of his words, Darius continued.

Darius: Oh, but I suppose that’s just the shallow thinking of a human for you.

Darius: After all, you think I won’t actually lay a hand on you, don’t you?

Kate: That’s not......

Darius: No matter what happens to you, Crown isn't coming to save you. They won't have a clue what goes on inside this ship.

Darius: So as long as I don't take your life, there shouldn't be any problem with whatever I put you through, right?

Darius: After all, you’re the one who nodded and agreed to remain my pet for the rest of your life.

The hand that had been gripping my chin slid down to wrap around my throat.

Kate: !

Darius gave me a bright smile as his free hand reached for the ribbon of my blouse.

Darius: Even if I subject you to every possible indignity here, even if I break your spirit, even if I make it so you can never move again.

Darius: If your master desires it, you have no choice but to obey.

Then, he tightened his grip on my throat.

Darius: After all, it’s because of you that everything has gone to ruin.

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Blind Love Chapter 22

If you'd like to support my translations and read them DAYS before they are published on this Tumblr, consider joining my Patreon!

Air Conditioner Maintenance

The true sources of an employee's happiness: a comfortable environment, getting paid on time, and absolutely no overtime.

Administrative Notice To ensure the office air conditioning system operates efficiently and to improve everyone's working environment, a comprehensive maintenance and servicing of the office area AC units will be conducted this Saturday (September XX). During the maintenance period, power outage testing, equipment cleaning, and refrigerant checks will be carried out, which is expected to take the entire day.

To guarantee the maintenance work proceeds smoothly, please do not schedule any overtime this Saturday. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have exceptional circumstances that require you to enter the building to handle urgent matters, please report to the Administration Department in advance.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

Administration Department

September XX, 2025

Comments: When Can I Become Full-Time: This is awesome, now I can actually go out on a date this Saturday.

Don't Give Me Requests Right Before Clock-Out: ?? Then what am I supposed to do about my unfinished work?

Time For A Break: Management is brilliant! Now I have a perfectly legitimate reason not to show up to the office over the weekend!

—

Indoor Swings

The wild ideas coming out of these entertainment companies are truly never-ending……

Actor A: I will hang myself right in this house, turn into a vengeful spirit, and curse you to hell!

Actor B: Zhu Mingshen, no swinging in the house!

Actor A: Urgh—

Youran: What exactly are you guys filming here?

Director: Oh, if it isn't Producer Youran! This is the climax of the main scene for part nine of our micro-drama, "Reborn as the Empress."

Director: It's the high-stakes moment where the female lead, the Empress, is wrongfully accused by the male lead, the county magistrate, and threatens to end her own life.

Youran: The Empress wrongfully accused by a county magistrate…… are those even words that make sense together?

Youran: More importantly, I distinctly remember your company was only shooting part one six months ago. How are you already on part nine?

Director: Is that supposed to be fast? Next door, "A Grandmother at Nine: Treasured by the Whole Family" is already on part twelve.

Director: By the way, how is your company's "The Peerless Enchantress Builds a Fortune with a Convenience Store in the Apocalypse" selling? Got any good distribution channels you can share?

Youran: …If you're curious about that, you should probably contact our business development department.

Youran: Furthermore, our company will no longer be participating in this particular market sector moving forward.

—

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Chapter 2-03

If you'd like to support my translations and read them DAYS before they are published on this Tumblr, consider joining my Patreon!

Around the exact same time Kagetoki was pushing forward with battle preparations against the mass of low-ranking soldiers in Kyoto......

As the light of twilight stained the luxurious room, three court nobles were engaged in a secret discussion inside a certain mansion.

Court Noble 1: A rather concerning piece of news has flown into my possession.

Court Noble 1: It claims that...... 'a retainer of Kajiwara Kagetoki was murdered by the mass of low-ranking soldiers occupying a certain village.'

Court Nobles 2, 3: ......!

Court Noble 1: It appears Kajiwara Kagetoki intends to seek instructions from the Seii Taishogun and organize a punitive expedition force.

Court Noble 2: ......Has this not turned into an incredibly problematic situation?

Court Noble 3: Indeed, if he has somehow caught wind of the fact that we are involved in gathering those soldiers......!

Court Noble 1: Calm yourselves, you two.

Court Noble 1: Even if Kajiwara Kagetoki was in the Eastern Provinces, there is absolutely no way he could have sniffed out the finer details of the situation just from staying in Kyoto for a day or two.

Court Noble 2: Mmh......

Court Noble 3: But they say Kajiwara Kagetoki possesses a sharp intellect completely unlike that of a typical samurai......

Court Noble 1: Just in case the worst should happen, I have already destroyed any evidence moments ago. Even if we are suspected by some rare chance, we need only feign total ignorance and push through.

Court Noble 2: O-oh, I see. Quite so.

The court nobles nodded to one another, broad, smug smiles playing upon their faces.

Court Noble 1: Let us quickly dispatch a messenger to the soldiers as well, and instruct them to vanish into thin air.

Court Noble 3: Might that not expose our movements? Surely Kajiwara Kagetoki has had his subordinates keep watch over the perimeter of the village.

Court Noble 1: Nonsense. Kajiwara Kagetoki has brought nothing more than a small handful of attendants along with him. He could not possibly keep watch over every single one of those mountain paths.

The stifled chuckles of the court nobles rippled outwards through the room.

...

And then, right around the time the darkness of night completely shrouded everything......

Kagetoki: —Indeed. He could not possibly keep watch over every single one of those mountain paths.

Kagetoki: ......I am certain that is exactly what they were thinking.

Messenger of the Court Nobles: L-let me go! You insolent fools!

Brought before Kagetoki-san, who stood with his sword strapped to his waist in preparation for battle, was a bound man carrying a secret letter addressed to the mass of low-ranking soldiers.

(To think everything would go this perfectly.)

Utilizing the cover of night, Kagetoki-san had his men capture the messenger who had been attempting to make his way toward the village.

Afterward, he issued orders to his subordinates and had them dismiss themselves, commanding only me to remain behind on the spot.

Yoshino: But...... how on earth did you manage to find him?

Kagetoki: What this man's employer caught wind of was actually false information that I intentionally circulated.

Kagetoki: There were multiple candidates among the court nobles within the Imperial Court who were suspected of being involved with the mass of low-ranking soldiers, but......

Kagetoki: I fed the exact same information to all of them in order to narrow them down.

Messenger of the Court Nobles: ......! Don't tell me you intentionally let us run wild just to string us along!

Kagetoki: Precisely. I waited for the panicked culprits to make their move to destroy any evidence,

Kagetoki: And I successfully managed to identify the three individuals directly involved.

Kagetoki: There is absolutely no need to keep watch over the mountain paths; keeping an eye on the gates of those three specific mansions is more than sufficient.

Yoshino: Even if you say that, how did you manage to catch their movements to destroy the evidence so easily?

Kagetoki: I possess eyes and ears within Kyoto as well. Though I must admit, the inner workings of the Imperial Court itself remain almost entirely pitch black to me.

(......That means he has spies infiltrated in those places, right?)

The utter lack of any oversight—to the point where it feels as though he can see straight into the future—is deeply terrifying, even when he is on your side.

Messenger of the Court Nobles: T-there is no way a thing like this will ever be permitted! Enough, release me this instant!

Messenger of the Court Nobles: Do not think for a single moment that you or that woman over there will get away with this scot-free!

Kagetoki: You have absolutely no need to worry about that.

Without making a single sound, Kagetoki-san walked right up to the messenger.

Messenger of the Court Nobles: D-do you actually intend to murder me?

Kagetoki: Yes.

(......!)

The very next moment after he whispered his response, Kagetoki-san's blade flashed across the messenger's throat.

Messenger of the Court Nobles: ......! ......

(Ah......)

The scenery right in front of me felt as though it were moving by in agonizing slow motion.

Without even a spare moment to raise a voice of terror or agony, the messenger collapsed.

—Perhaps he didn't even realize what had actually happened to him.

(He's dead...... Kagetoki-san killed him.)

The vivid brilliance of the blood made me feel as if my consciousness were on the verge of fading away.

The only thing anchoring me to reality was Kagetoki-san's eyes as he quietly turned back to face me.

Kagetoki: You stated that you wished to understand me, correct?

Yoshino: Y-yes.

Kagetoki: So long as you desire that, you will continue to witness the death of human beings.

(......Kagetoki-san.)

(He intentionally let me watch him take this man's life.)

Realizing that through pure intuition, a sharp gasp escaped my throat.

Kagetoki: Leaving him alive would only serve to supply the court nobles with unnecessary information. Therefore, I killed him.

Kagetoki: There was no hesitation involved. That is the kind of man I am.

Kagetoki-san's aura was so incredibly razor-sharp that there wasn't a single shred of room to question whether his words were true or false.

Yoshino: ......I—

Terrified that my own core would start to waver, I firmly planted my freezing feet against the earth.

Kagetoki: Yoshino. When you pleaded for the lives of the villagers, you utilized the phrase 'priorities,' did you not?

Yoshino: ......Yes. I did.

The words I had uttered from my very own mouth just a short while ago vividly resurfaced in my mind.

..

Yoshino: I will...... establish a set of priorities.

Kagetoki: Priorities?

Yoshino: Within a scope that doesn't hinder the operation in any way, won't you please allow me to come with you......?

Yoshino: If anyone from the Shogunate sustains severe injuries, I can treat them immediately.

Yoshino: After I have exhausted absolutely all of my strength for the sake of the Shogunate—

Yoshino: If there is even the slightest margin left to save the lives of the villagers, please...... please allow me to extend a helping hand.

..

Kagetoki: On the battlefield, the weight of a life is lighter than a single feather. Precisely because of that......

Kagetoki: I, too, establish a set of priorities just like you do. However, mine are far more stringent.

(The priorities that Kagetoki-san establishes.)

Unlike my own newly born resolve, Kagetoki-san's priorities were undoubtedly as cold and unyielding as steel.

Yoshino: ......Will you tell me? What exactly it is that you prioritize, Kagetoki-san.

As I asked the question in a raspy voice, Kagetoki-san's words pierced straight through me like an arrow in a single breath.

Kagetoki: To me, the most important existence in this current space is you.

Yoshino: ......! Me......?

Kagetoki: First is you, as the Shogunate's trump card. Next are my subordinates, who serve as the Shogunate's military strength. Then, the unrelated villagers......

Kagetoki: And placed at the absolute bottom layer is the enemy we must annihilate.

Kagetoki: If danger ever approaches you, I will abandon even our own allies. Mark my words well.

(—This isn't a threat. This is a severe warning to me before entering the fray.)

(From here on out, there is no turning back.)

(In order to convey that exact truth to me, Kagetoki-san killed an enemy right before my eyes.)

Kagetoki: I shall ask you one final time. Do you truly intend to come with me, Yoshino?

Yoshino: .........

Biting down hard on my lower lip, I dropped to my knees right in front of the deceased messenger.

(I'm so sorry.)

Just as those words were on the absolute verge of spilling from my lips, I forced myself to swallow them down.

(Apologizing is wrong. Because I have already made my choice.)

(......At the very least, I hope this person can rest in peace.)

Knowing all too well that even such a thought was nothing more than a self-gratifying wish, a bitter emotion filled my entire chest.

Even so, I forced myself to look forward and stared straight back into Kagetoki-san's eyes.

Yoshino: Thank you for treating me as a full-fledged adult, Kagetoki-san.

Yoshino: I am coming with you. Please, allow me to fight alongside you.

Kagetoki: ......

(My feelings might still be a complete jumble, but I need to steel my resolve. For Kagetoki-san's sake, and for the sake of everyone else, too.)

Kagetoki: Splendid.

Kagetoki: I have firmly received your determination.

Kagetoki: I promise to fully absorb every single facet of your resolve as my own possession, and utilize it within my strategies without letting a single bit of it go to waste.

While keeping his sharp gaze locked on me, Kagetoki-san's voice flowed onward in a serene cadence.

Yoshino: ......I am in your hands.

Kagetoki: As am I in yours. When we first met, I could never have imagined that my association with you would ever stretch this far.

The resonance of his voice was so incredibly gentle it caught me completely off guard, causing a sudden, uncontrollable lump to form in my throat.

Kagetoki: Well then.

Searching the breast pocket of the collapsed messenger, Kagetoki-san retrieved the letter sent by the court nobles.

Kagetoki: Let us begin our grand design.

...

Several hours later......

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: Hey, the messenger from our employer has arrived!

Low-Ranking Soldier 2: What's going on?

Responding to the lookout's call, the low-ranking soldiers occupying the village began to gather one after another.

???: I am terribly sorry for arriving at such an hour. Due to a mishap along the way, my arrival was significantly delayed.

The moonlight, peaking out from behind the clouds, illuminated the messenger's face.

Kagetoki: I have been entrusted with a letter from my master, so please, read it first.

Low-Ranking Soldier 3: That messenger guy definitely has the look of a deskbound scribe.

Low-Ranking Soldier 4: A noble's errand boy probably has absolutely nothing to do with rough business.

Low-Ranking Soldier 5: Well, thanks to that, we're the ones who get to have all the fun.

Paying absolutely no mind to the soldiers whispering whatever pleased them, Kagetoki—disguised as the messenger—maintained a perfectly composed expression.

The man who appeared to be the captain accepted the letter and scanned it with a cautious eye.

Low-Ranking Soldier 6: The handwriting is indeed identical to the letter we previously received from our employer. It appears he is the genuine messenger.

Kagetoki: We are incredibly fortunate to have requested the services of someone so deeply cautious and reliable.

Kagetoki: The contents are precisely as written there.

Low-Ranking Soldier 6: A new batch of soldiers will be arriving shortly, so we are to welcome them as comrades and prepare for the upcoming battle...... I see.

Low-Ranking Soldier 6: If our military strength increases, our own jobs will get easier. As long as our share of the cut doesn't decrease, they are more than welcome.

Kagetoki: You have absolutely no need to worry on that front. They should be arriving here in the very near future.

Kagetoki: By the way, with darkness like this, one might easily lose their footing while heading down the mountain. Might I borrow a night's lodging in the village?

Low-Ranking Soldier 6: Do as you please. Though you shouldn't expect any hospitality.

Kagetoki let a serene smile slip past his lips at the soldier, who waved his hand with total indifference.

...

......Completely unbeknownst to the mass of low-ranking soldiers, the grand design had already crept right up to their very feet.

(—By now, Kagetoki-san should be infilitrating the village under the guise of the messenger.)

Right now, my field of vision was entirely enveloped in pitch black darkness. As for the reason why......

..

Yoshino: Forging a letter, you say?

Kagetoki: Yes. Due to the very nature of their work, many of the subordinates directly under my command possess abilities heavily specialized in espionage.

Kagetoki: Among them are individuals who excel specifically at replicating handwriting with absolute precision.

Kagetoki: My plan is to forge the contents of the letter so that I may masquerade as the messenger, and my subordinates may disguise themselves as newly recruited soldiers.

Yoshino: ......So you captured the messenger from the very beginning with that exact intention in mind.

(Just like how he fed false information to the court nobles, this time he is going to thoroughly deceive the soldiers.)

(Whenever people spoke of a battle, I always took it for granted that it meant attacking one another with swords and arrows.)

(But Kagetoki-san's way of fighting is entirely different.)

Kagetoki: Devouring an enemy from the inside out is far easier than a straightforward frontal breakthrough. In short, it is a deceptive attack, but......

Kagetoki: There is absolutely no such thing as a proper path from the very beginning when it comes to warfare. Allow us to proudly walk the wicked path.

Yoshino: I understand...... By the way, what exactly should I do?

(It's obviously going to be far too much of a stretch for me to blend in with everyone else and pretend to be a newly recruited soldier.)

Kagetoki: Rest assured. There is something that I have fully intended for you to disguise yourself as as well.

Holding a massive burlap sack in his hands, Kagetoki-san let a wicked smile play upon his lips.

Kagetoki: From this moment onward, you are a piece of luggage. Can you manage to stay quiet and behave yourself nicely?

Yoshino: Y-yes?

Kagetoki: If you so desire, I can fashion you to look even more like a proper piece of luggage.

Yoshino: Just for my own reference, what exactly would that look like......?

Kagetoki: Let us see.

With a perfectly natural movement, Kagetoki-san scooped up my hand and let out a soft chuckle.

Kagetoki: Tying your hands and feet together and stuffing a cloth into your mouth might make it look quite authentic.

(Absolutely not!)

Yoshino: ......I hadn't mentioned it to you before, Kagetoki-san, but I happen to excel immensely at staying quiet just like a piece of luggage.

Kagetoki: Learning of your special skill has been highly meaningful. I shall keep it in mind for future reference.

..

(Thanks to that conversation, here I am holding my breath inside a burlap sack.)

Piled onto a cart, I was currently being transported into the village by Kagetoki-san's subordinates.

Every single time the cart rattled and swayed irregularly along the rough mountain path, a wave of profound anxiety washed over me.

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: Hey, stop right there.

(Ah—)

Halted by an unfamiliar voice, I could sense the person who had approached and Kagetoki-san's subordinates exchanging words.

(That was one of the lookout soldiers just now, right......?)

Low-Ranking Soldier 1: You've brought an awfully large amount of baggage with you. What exactly is inside that cart?

Yoshino: ......!

The exact moment my pulse quickened and I shrank my body as tight as humanly possible inside the burlap sack—

Kagetoki: Ah, so the reinforcements have arrived.

(This voice...... Kagetoki-san!)

.

.

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Chapter 12

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Wolfgang: In that case, I'll teach you.

Wolfgang: Lower your stance a bit more.

As he spoke, Wolfgang moved directly behind me.

Mitsuki: L-like this......?

Wolfgang: ......Like this.

(Ugh......)

Wolfgang's voice vibrated right next to my ear.

Enfolding me in an embrace from behind, he gently adjusted the placement of my hands.

Mitsuki: T-thank you. But I can handle it from here, really.

Embarrassed by the intense warmth of him so close to me, my cheeks began to burn.

Wolfgang: Is that so? In that case, give it another try.

Wolfgang finally released his grip on me, allowing me to let out a breath of relief.

However, my heart had already begun to race, and it showed no signs of calming down anytime soon—

The game eventually drew to a close with my absolute defeat.

Mitsuki: You really can do just about anything, can't you, Wolfgang?

(He can play the piano, compose musical scores, and he's even great at games.)

Wolfgang: ......I cannot do everything.

Wolfgang: Billiards was merely a minor skill I picked up for social gatherings.

Putting his pool cue away, Wolfgang turned back to face me.

Wolfgang: Come to think of it...... have you still not bitten anyone yet?

Mitsuki: Eh......?

The sudden, blunt question caught me entirely off guard.

Wolfgang: I was under the impression that vampires attacked humans and fed on them without a single moment of hesitation.

Wolfgang: That bizarre butler locking us away inside this mansion was supposed to be for that exact purpose, after all.

Mitsuki: W-well, I don't just go around biting anyone and everyone without care.

(Part of it is because it would transform the other person into a vampire...... but there's more to it than just that.)

Mitsuki: There are blood substitutes available if it's strictly for sustenance, and I happen to be a very chaste, respectable lady, thank you very much.

Feeling my cheeks flush with heat, I offered a vague, deflected response.

A vampire's fangs always induce an intense wave of pleasure in their prey.

Because of that, the act of biting someone is generally considered to be accompanied by deep affection or love—carrying a significance very similar to human intimacy.

(Even if it's an urge driven by pure instinct, it doesn't mean just absolutely anyone will do.)

Wolfgang: Heh, I see. So for a vampire, the act of 'biting' carries that sort of meaning.

Having apparently read between the lines from my flustered reaction, Wolfgang nodded in understanding.

Leaning back against the billiards table, he fixed his gaze intently upon me.

Wolfgang: ......In that case, don't you dare bite any of those other men.

Mitsuki: Eh......

Wolfgang: The thought of you touching anyone else is entirely intolerable to me.

Mitsuki: W-well...... what exactly is that supposed to mean?

Wolfgang: Who knows. It was simply a thought that crossed my mind, so I chose to voice it.

(What is that even supposed to mean...... Was he just teasing me? Truly......?)

Watching me stand there utterly bewildered by the frantic pounding of my heart, Wolfgang let out a soft, fluid smile.

Wolfgang: Being with you is quite enjoyable.

Wolfgang: At first, I kept wondering what the point was of locking me away in a place like this, but—

Wolfgang: Now, I find myself thinking that spending my time with you like this isn't bad at all.

Those violet eyes effortlessly drew out the faint, tender romance that I had kept buried deep within my chest.

(Ugh...... No, if I stay here any longer—)

I would lay my entire heart bare and surely end up craving Wolfgang's blood.

Mitsuki: ......I'm sorry. I just remembered a minor errand I have to run.

Wolfgang: Eh......?

Leaving behind a thoroughly bewildered Wolfgang, I swiftly made my exit from the lounge.

...

I had long since realized the true meaning behind my quickening pulse, as well as the reason why my cheeks flushed with heat at the mere memory of him.

(......I love Wolfgang.)

(If I am to bite absolutely anyone, I want it to be Wolfgang.)

My heart, which had been sinking all alone into utter isolation inside this mansion, had been completely healed by him.

I couldn't even count how many times I had been rescued by those nights we spent together, using the melody of the piano in place of conversation.

..

Wolfgang: Being with you is quite enjoyable.

..

(......I find it enjoyable too. Even though living had already begun to feel so terribly stagnant to me.)

Ever since Wolfgang arrived, my days had become so incredibly vibrant, almost as if I had been granted a brand new life.

(If I could continue to spend my days alongside Wolfgang from here on out—)

(I'm certain I would be so incredibly happy.)

If I were to bite Wolfgang, we would be able to stay together for all eternity as fellow vampires.

However, as the price for that choice, Wolfgang would have to abandon his existence as a human, casting aside the entire life he had built up until now.

(I cannot allow myself to give in to pure impulse. If I truly treasure Wolfgang, there are things I must carefully consider.)

Driven by a bitterly sweet temptation, I gently pressed a hand against my frantically pounding chest—

After that, several days passed by—

The hours I shared with Wolfgang, lost in entirely trivial conversations, became more and more precious to me with each passing day.

However, time flowed onward with absolute ruthlessness.

(......The full moon is almost here.)

I looked up at the night sky from my room window.

In two nights, when the full moon rose to its absolute peak in this sky, I would reach the final expiration date of my life.

Sebastian: Mitsuki-sama. It is past time for you to make up your mind.

Sebastian: If you do not bite someone, you will simply fade away into nothingness, you know?

Mitsuki: ......Please, just give me one more night.

I lowered my gaze down toward the courtyard.

The light of a lamp was flickering inside the gazebo, and I could see Wolfgang's figure sitting there.

Following my melancholy gaze as I stared down at him, Sebastian let out a soft, defeated sigh.

Sebastian: ......Whatever choice you make, I shall accept it. That is my duty, after all.

Mitsuki: Thank you, Sebastian.

Sebastian: Very well, I shall take my leave now.

Watching Sebastian's sorrowful back as he departed, I made my way toward Wolfgang.

Stepping out into the courtyard, I walked over to the gazebo.

There, I could see Wolfgang writing a musical score, using a thick book underneath as a makeshift desk.

Mitsuki: Wolfgang.

Having been entirely focused on his work, Wolfgang looked up with a slight start.

Wolfgang: ......It's you.

Mitsuki: Why are you writing in a place like this?

Wolfgang: The moon was bright, so I thought I'd get a change of pace.

Wolfgang: ......Can you not sleep again?

Mitsuki: Yeah. Is it okay if I stay by your side?

Wolfgang: I don't particularly mind.

Taking a seat right next to him, I murmured softly against the quiet backdrop of the night.

Mitsuki: Hey, there's something I've been wanting to ask you.

Wolfgang: What is it?

Mitsuki: ......What are you going to do once you return to the town, Wolfgang?

Subconsciously, I had always avoided learning about Wolfgang's life in the town—his life as a human.

(Because I was terrified of being forced to realize that Wolfgang's place isn't here with me......)

Hiding my crushing loneliness and anxiety, I looked up at Wolfgang.

Wolfgang: ......For the time being, I'll finish this score.

Wolfgang: After that, I intend to pitch my work to a nobleman I was introduced to through an acquaintance.

Mitsuki: So you're going to become a professional musician.

Wolfgang: Yeah.

A faint, subtle smile played upon Wolfgang's lips.

Wolfgang: ......I want to deliver my music to countless people.

Wolfgang: I want to create the ultimate music, the kind that transcends national borders and eras entirely.

(If it's Wolfgang, I'm certain he can do it.)

(But...... that is a feat possible precisely because he is a human.)

(The history and sensibilities he has built up as a human are what form his melodies.)

Furthermore, it was always incredibly dangerous for a vampire to stand on the main stage of human history.

(......As I thought, I should just submit to fate and fade away.)

(Even though I allowed myself to dream of what it would be like to live alongside him—)

(In the end, I hate the thought of turning Wolfgang into a vampire.)

(......And I hate the thought of biting anyone else, too.)

As the sole survivor of the pureblood vampires, this might be an unforgivably selfish desire.

Even so, I wanted to deeply treasure this love I had found for Wolfgang at the very end of my life.

Wolfgang: ......This time, it's my turn to ask a question.

Wolfgang: Is the reason you cannot sleep because something is troubling you?

Mitsuki: W-well...... Huh? Why do you ask?

Hiding the sudden jolt of panic in my chest, I shot a question back at him.

Wolfgang: Whenever you come to listen to my piano at night, you always have a gloomy look on your face without fail.

Wolfgang: And even right now, you have a thoroughly troubled look in your eyes.

The sheer warmth of his gaze only made the painful ache restricting my chest even worse.

(......But this is for the best.)

Filled with a strangely serene peace of mind, I parted my lips to speak.

Mitsuki: Sometimes, the night just gets so incredibly lonely that I find myself unable to sleep.

Mitsuki: Because almost every single living thing always leaves me behind in the end.

(Animals and humans with their short lifespans, of course—)

(And even my fellow kind left me behind, too.)

But I would never have to see anyone else off ever again.

(......This time, it's my turn.)

If I still harbored a single lingering regret, it was merely the fact that there would be no one left to see me off.

Suddenly—Wolfgang gently placed his hand over mine.

Mitsuki: W-Wolfgang......?

Wolfgang: Someday, I'll compose a piece of music just for you.

Mitsuki: Eh......?

Wolfgang: Music never fades away, nor does it ever lose its life.

Wolfgang: It can remain right by your side for all eternity.

(......!)

The words Wolfgang offered me sent a profound warmth rushing through my chest.

Throughout my lengthy isolation, I had always been searching for something that would stay by my side.

If I could receive a melody from Wolfgang that would never perish for all eternity, how incredibly happy would I be?

(......For me, this is more than enough.)

By the time Wolfgang finally finishes composing the piece, I'm certain I will no longer be of this world.

But simply having him make this promise to me was enough to wash away any remaining regrets.

Mitsuki: Thank you.

I gently placed my own hand over Wolfgang's.

(I'll make sure to remember this warmth until my very last moment.)

Mitsuki: ......Well then, I should probably go to sleep soon. Good night.

Wolfgang: Yeah. See you tomorrow.

Before he could notice that my tears were on the verge of spilling over, I hurried away from the spot.

And then, the night of the full moon finally arrived—

Sebastian stood outside the mansion, seeing off the humans as they made their way back to the town.

Mitsuki's figure was nowhere to be found among them.

Sebastian: Well then, please take care.

Wolfgang: ......Where is Mitsuki?

Sebastian: Mitsuki-sama stated that she does not wish to see you.

Wolfgang: She doesn't wish to see me......?

Confronted with a rejection that made absolutely no sense to him, Wolfgang knit his brows.

Wolfgang: In that case, I have a message for her. Tell her that I will be returning to visit very soon.

Wolfgang: I want to hand her the musical score I wrote for her. And...... I have something important to discuss as well.

Sebastian: No. From this moment onward, it will be impossible for you to ever see Mitsuki-sama again.

Wolfgang: ......What exactly is that supposed to mean?

Wolfgang's face twisted with clear irritation at Sebastian, who had gone completely silent.

Wolfgang: Give me a reason that actually makes sense as to why I can't see Mitsuki.

As he voiced his raw emotion, Sebastian's eyes wavered with deep distress.

Sebastian: Under normal circumstances, this is not something I should be speaking of, but Mitsuki-sama is......—

And at the revelation of the truth that followed, Wolfgang's eyes widened in sheer shock—

...

(I wonder if Wolfgang made it back to the town safely.)

By now, Sebastian should be seeing everyone off, having arranged a carriage to take them back to town.

There is still a tiny fraction of time left before the full moon rises to its absolute peak in the sky.

In order to meet my final moments, I made my way toward a certain destination—

.

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Happy Ending

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Blinking my heavy eyelids open, I found myself lying in a dark, unfamiliar room.

(Where am I?)

(Right, I was......)

..

Mai: Ah...... ugh......

Motonari: Hey, you awake?

Kicho: I see, so that is the effect of the anomaly.

Mai: Let go of me......

Motonari: Just close your eyes and get some rest for now, you poor little princess. —Though, mind you,

Motonari: The dreams you're bound to see will be absolute nightmares.

Motonari: Even so, compared to how miserable your reality is, it'll probably feel like heaven.

..

(Those two were the ones who brought me here.)

The dizziness I felt before losing consciousness had completely cleared up, and I didn't even feel sick anymore.

(That symptom flared up again.)

Pushing my body up to lean against the wall, I buried my face in both hands.

(Kicho-san mentioned that this physical deterioration is the side effect of the future breaking down......)

..

Kicho: You collapsed right in the middle of a banquet and a war council. Furthermore, you grew ill once again while transporting provisions to the town.

Kicho: Yet, you recovered with astonishing speed. The common thread here is that a death occurred in your immediate vicinity each time.

Kicho: In other words, every single time someone dies near you, you heal.

..

(I still don't know for sure if that rule is actually true. But......)

(If it is true, then I'm...... practically a grim reaper.)

A cold shudder ran straight down my spine, and a sensation washed over me as if the very world before my eyes was turning murky and corrupted.

(No, I can't. I shouldn't just blindly believe everything Kicho-san says.)

(More importantly, right now I need to focus on escaping from this place.)

Mitsunari-kun was undoubtedly leading his army and fighting the enemy even at this very moment.

I couldn't bear to add to his burdens by letting myself be used as a hostage.

Just as I reached out to touch the door to check if it was locked—

Motonari: Whoops. Looks like you're completely ready to make a run for it, princess.

(Motonari-san......!)

Mai: D-do you need something?

Motonari: I just thought I'd come share a nice little story with you.

Opening the door and stepping inside, Motonari-san leaned his back against the wall right next to the entrance.

Motonari: I met up with Mitsunari just a little while ago.

(Eh...... You met up with him?)

Mai: What did you talk about? Don't tell me you used me as a shield to demand the Oda army's withdrawal......

Motonari: Like I'd waste my time with something that tedious. I merely gave him some advice to make his life a whole lot easier.

Motonari: I told him to betray the Oda army.

The words he dropped so casually were something I couldn't possibly accept.

Mai: What are you...... talking about......

Motonari: You look surprised. Overthrowing your superiors and betraying your lord aren't exactly rare stories in this world, you know?

Mai: Even so, there's no way Mitsunari-kun would ever do something like—

Shrugging his shoulders, Motonari-san glanced down at me with cold, piercing eyes.

Motonari: My, you really do seem to view that guy as some kind of pure, flawless saint, princess.

Motonari: Too bad he isn't. Mitsunari accepted my offer.

(That's a lie......!)

(Did he blackmail him using me as a hostage?)

(But even if that were the case, Mitsunari-kun would definitely come up with a different strategy.)

I didn't have to believe a single word coming from a man known as the God of Schemes.

Even though I kept telling myself that, my heart was violently shaken.

Motonari: Mitsunari fully understood that the condition for keeping you alive, princess, is for people to keep right on dying.

Motonari: In other words, to ensure this chaotic, war-torn world keeps going so plenty of corpses keep piling up,

Motonari: he judged that it'd be much better to side with us rather than the Oda army, who are aiming for a peaceful world.

(That's...... he can't do that......)

..

Mitsunari: If this is a world where you can live with a smile on your face, I am certain that many others will be able to find happiness as well.

Mitsunari: In order to make that a reality...... I shall view the grand scheme of things with a clearer gaze than anyone else, and execute strategies that result in the fewest possible sacrifices.

Mitsunari: I want to use politics to soothe the suffering of the people that lingers even after a war has ended.

Mitsunari: So that when the structure of the world inevitably shifts, the resulting friction and pain will be kept to an absolute minimum.

..

(On that night when I heard those words from Mitsunari-kun, I thought about what a beautiful, gentle conviction it was...... And yet......)

(If he lets go of that dream, Mitsunari-kun will suffer and regret it for the rest of his life.)

Mai: I have to stop him. I need to go see Mitsunari-kun right now.

Unable to sit still for another second, I reached my hand out toward the door, only to have the muzzle of a gun pointed directly at my face.

Motonari: Don't move. Honestly, what do you think you can even accomplish with a body in that condition?

Mai: I'm pretty stubborn about giving up. Just like the person I love.

(That's right, I can't let myself be misled by this man and give up.)

Just as intensely as Mitsunari-kun desired to save me, I loved Mitsunari-kun just as fiercely.

Mai: Even without trading away someone else's life, I will find a way to survive.

Mai: If I do that, then Mitsunari-kun won't have to betray his comrades, right?

Motonari: I'm betting you'll drop dead long before you ever manage to hunt down a method like that.

Mai: Then I'll just do my absolute best not to die. So I don't spend the rest of my life full of regret.

Mai: So I don't force Mitsunari-kun to live with regret.

(Mitsunari-kun, I'm sorry for being so selfish.)

(But I've made up my mind, so I have to tell you.)

The trigger of the gun held on me could be pulled at any single moment.

Even so, I refused to back down, gritting my teeth as I glared right back at Motonari-san.

Motonari: .........You.

Mai: Mitsunari-kun will absolutely never become your puppet!

The very instant those words burst from the bottom of my heart, it happened.

Motonari: Tsk!

Slammed by a massive impact, the wooden door was kicked completely off its hinges, shattering into a spectacular spray of splinters.

(Wh-what in the world......)

Keiji: Sorry to keep you waiting, Mai! I overheard everything!

Masamune: Motonari, hand your head over to me.

(Keiji, and Masamune too! You actually came for me.)

Masamune: Mai, you're unharmed, right?

Mai: Yeah......!

Keiji: All right, let's wrap this up quickly so we can head on home!

Faced with the two men raising their sword and spear, Motonari-san calmly narrowed his crimson eyes.

Motonari: Well, well, well. Maeda Keiji and Date Masamune?

Motonari: Having two of the Oda army's warlords show up to rescue you, you're certainly being cherished, aren't you?

(Ah)

—Bang!

In an instant, bullets flew straight toward the two of them.

Ducking swiftly out of the way, the wall behind them burst apart violently from the impact.

Motonari: You wouldn't want the princess to end up as damaged goods, would you? Then don't move an inch.

There was absolutely no hesitation in his eyes, which were dripping with cruelty.

Masamune: Trying to buy time until your subordinates show up? Unfortunately for you, no one is coming.

Keiji: You got that right. Every last one of them is lying flat on the ground out there.

Motonari: Heh, so that's why it was so suspiciously quiet around here. Aren't you two impressive?

Though all three of them maintained a casual tone, the air was wrapped in a terrifyingly heavy tension.

If anyone closed the distance by even a fraction of an inch, the silence would undoubtedly warp into a bloody tragedy.

(What should I do? Even though it's two against one, they're at a massive disadvantage because I'm being held hostage.)

Even as this standoff continued, I couldn't stop worrying about Mitsunari-kun.

Mai: Masamune...... Keiji, please! Forget about me and go look for Mitsunari-kun!

Masamune, Keiji: .....!

Mai: If we don't stop Mitsunari-kun, this war-torn world will just continue forever.

Mai: And if that happens, Mitsunari-kun will never, ever be able to return to us again.

Motonari: Still worrying about that guy even at a time like this? You're gonna make me tear up.

Motonari: But he's already made his choice. Giving up makes everything a whole lot easier.

Mai: I won't give up, absolutely never......!

Motonari: .....

The gaze of his crimson eyes wavered ever so slightly.

Keiji: Well said, Mai!

(Kyah!)

Keiji's spear whipped through the air, creating a gust of wind as it aimed straight for Motonari-san's throat.

Motonari: Tsk.

Just a mere split second before it pierced him, Motonari-san leapt backward to evade the spearhead.

Masamune: This way, Mai!

Mai: Wha......

Masamune grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward him with a powerful tug.

Keiji: Masamune, I'm leaving her to you.

Masamune: Right. Mai, let's go stop Mitsunari!

Mai: Yeah......!

(It has to be now. This is the chance the two of them created for me.)

Motonari: Freeze.

Mai: !

Right before we could burst out of the shack, the muzzle of the gun pointed from behind was unmistakably locked onto me.

Motonari: ......

(Motonari-san...... is he hesitating?)

Perhaps it was nothing more than a trick of my imagination.

However, before the trigger could even be pulled, Keiji unleashed another fierce flurry of attacks.

The spearhead danced through the air like a flurry of petals, grazing past Motonari-san's silver hair.

Keiji: I'm not letting you take a single shot at Mai. Prepare yourself, 'cause I'm about to go completely wild out here.

Motonari: What a massive pain in the ass.

Leaving Keiji and Motonari-san behind, I burst out of the shack and sprinted down the pitch-black path alongside Masamune.

The air felt heavy and damp, as if it were about to rain at any second, causing sweat to bead on my forehead and trickle down.

Mai: Masamune, thank you for coming to rescue me! What's the situation like right now?

Masamune: With Mitsunari at the helm, the battle was an overwhelming victory for our side. But right after that, Mitsunari completely vanished.

Masamune: We tracked Mitsunari down and ended up at this location, though we happened to stumble upon you first.

Mai: Then Mitsunari-kun is somewhere close by?

Masamune: This place is Kicho and Motonari's base of operations, so there's a damn good chance he is.

Faced with a situation that felt like undeniable proof of his betrayal, a tight squeeze gripped my heart.

(Did Mitsunari-kun really...... betray us......?)

Masamune: Mai! It's too early to jump to conclusions. We came here to find out the truth for ourselves.

Mai: Masamune......

Masamune: Right?

Masamune roughly ruffled my hair, flashing me a confident smile.

Mai: I understand. Right now, what we need to focus on is finding Mitsunari-kun, right?

Masamune: Exactly. We don't have time to sit around listing every worst-case scenario.

Masamune: Still, Hideyoshi's intuition was right on the money. He'd picked up on the fact that Mitsunari had been troubled by something lately.

Masamune: It's precisely because he asked us to keep a close eye on Mitsunari's movements that we were able to deploy this quickly.

(So that's why they were able to rush to my side so fast.)

Right before heading out to the battlefield, I had actually gone to visit Hideyoshi-san alongside Mitsunari-kun.

..

Hideyoshi: Taking Mai to the battlefield?

Mitsunari: Yes, I was the one who requested her accompaniment. Naturally, I have already obtained Mai-sama's full consent.

Hideyoshi: Is that true, Mai?

(He looks so incredibly worried......)

Sitting right across from us, Hideyoshi-san's face practically screamed that he was completely against the idea.

Mai: I'm sorry for springing this on you so suddenly. But if there's anything I can do, I want to support Mitsunari-kun.

Mai: That feeling wouldn't change whether our destination is a battlefield or anywhere else.

Hideyoshi: But...... is your health truly up to it? What do you intend to do if you collapse again?

Mitsunari: I have, of course, already taken measures to address that possibility as well.

Mitsunari: I give you my word that I shall never allow Mai-sama to suffer.

Hideyoshi: Mitsunari......

Faced with the fierce, unyielding determination radiating from Mitsunari-kun, Hideyoshi-san didn't utter another word of protest.

..

(He must have already realized the reason behind my deteriorating health and sudden recoveries back then.)

(Maybe Hideyoshi-san picked up on something just by watching how Mitsunari-kun was acting.)

Just as I was reflecting on the incredible depth of their master-servant bond—

Masamune: ......Freeze.

Mai: Eh??

Masamune drew his twin tachi swords seamlessly from their scabbards.

Following the line of his single-eyed gaze......

Masamune: I said freeze. Kicho, and— Mitsunari.

(M-Mitsunari-kun...... I found you!)

Mitsunari: Mai-sama......

Turning around, Mitsunari-kun's face was so pale I could notice it even in the pitch darkness.

Kicho: Mitsunari, go on ahead. I shall stop the One-Eyed Dragon myself.

Masamune: You think you've got the skill to stop me?

Kicho: Naturally.

Kicho-san whipped a gun from his waist and fired a shot.

Without flinching for a single second, Masamune slashed forward swiftly at Kicho-san.

Mai: Mitsunari-kun......

Mitsunari: Mai-sama...... I did not wish for you to follow me.

Leaving behind a sorrowful murmur, Mitsunari-kun headed deeper into the forest.

Mai: Wait...... Don't go!

Leaving Kicho-san to Masamune as he tried to hold us back, I desperately chased after Mitsunari-kun until the rain finally began to fall.

The muddy path stole my footing, causing me to lose my balance and tumble to the ground.

Mai: Kyah!

Mitsunari: Mai-sama!

As Mitsunari-kun stopped in his tracks reflexively, I looked up at him without even bothering to brush away the dirt clinging to me.

Mai: Please, wait! I just want to talk to you, Mitsunari-kun!

Standing a few meters away, Mitsunari-kun remained still for a brief moment before finally opening his mouth to speak.

Mitsunari: ......I have betrayed the Oda army. I never intended to see you ever again.

Mitsunari: Yet, I also knew that no matter what kind of situation arose, you would chase after me, Mai-sama.

Mitsunari: ......Because that is simply the kind of person you are.

(Don't smile...... looking like that.)

Faced with his agonizing smile, my heart felt as though it were being completely crushed.

Mai: Did you betray them for my sake?

Mai: To keep this war-torn world going so that plenty of people will die, just so you can keep me from dying......

Mitsunari: ......

Breathing out a white mist as the rain beat down upon him, Mitsunari-kun slowly shook his head from side to side.

Mitsunari: In the past, I swore an oath to you, Mai-sama, promising that I would protect you.

Mitsunari: At that time, I still did not know it myself.

Mitsunari: I did not realize that I am a human being capable of throwing away trust, status, and absolutely everything else, so long as it is for the person I love.

Mitsunari: No...... saying it is for your sake is nothing more than a mere deception.

Mitsunari: ......I simply want you to live, Mai-sama. Because I love you, I do not want you to die.

Mitsunari: —This is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, my own desire, my own greed, and my own selfishness.

(Mitsunari-kun...... to think you care for me that deeply...)

As if nailed to the spot, I could only stand there motionless, staring straight into Mitsunari-kun's eyes.

Mitsunari: In front of the townsfolk who abandoned their village, I preached that no single life holds more value than another. Yet, my actions are entirely contradictory.

Mitsunari: To me, Mai-sama. Your life is more precious than absolutely anything else.

Mitsunari: I have come to realize that an evil which strays from the path of humanity is lurking deep within my own soul.

Mitsunari: I can no longer turn back.

Mitsunari-kun cast his long eyelashes downward, squeezing the words out from the very depths of his throat.

Mitsunari: I am so sorry. Please, find it in your heart to forget about me.

Mitsunari: Even so, I will not let the vow I made to protect you become a lie. Even if I fully understand that this is not what you wish for.

The emotions he harbored for me shone through his almond-shaped eyes so clearly that it was impossible for him to hide them.

(Mitsunari-kun...... I'm sorry.)

(I have to tell you something terribly cruel right now.)

My emotions were in complete turmoil and I could barely breathe, but I didn't care.

Mai: Mitsunari-kun, everyone harbors feelings that aren't right from time to time.

Mai: More importantly, I want you to search with me just one more time to find a different way to save me.

Mai: Because no matter how pitch-black the darkness around us is, you are a person who can always ferret out a clue to the solution.

Mitsunari: Mai-sama......

Mai: Even if it's painful, even if it seems entirely hopeless, I want you to keep struggling on and on, and keep thinking for my sake.

Mai: Let's live through this together, searching for a glimmer of light even if we're in the depths of hell.

Mai: But still, if— if it really turns out to be impossible......

For a split second, my throat choked up and the words refused to come out.

(I don't want to say what comes next...... but I absolutely have to say it.)

(Because I've realized that a person as pure as Mitsunari-kun will never be able to bring himself to give up on me.)

For my sake, he was prepared to cast aside all peace and continue manufacturing a massive wave of death.

Bearing the weight of that sin entirely on his own, cruelly killing his own conscience to do it.

(If we can't find any other path to survival...... then when that time comes......)

Mai: Will you die with me......?

Mitsunari: ......!

A burning heat flared behind my eyelids like a boiling wave, and tears spilled over as I forced a gentle smile for Mitsunari-kun.

Mai: Please...... Mitsunari-kun.

Mitsunari: ......Is that truly all right?

Large drops finally overflowed from the amethyst eyes reflecting my image, wetting his pale cheeks—

Mitsunari: ......Is it truly all right for me to die right alongside you?

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Blissful Ending Chapter 14

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Matias: Are you all right?

Matias-sama instinctively caught a woman who had fainted from sheer overexcitement.

Matias: My apologies, but could you carry this woman to a room where she can rest?

Even while calling over a guard and giving instructions, his arms remained wrapped around her to support her—

And a tiny, sharp pang of jealousy pierced my chest.

(......I know. The fact that he radiates such natural allure is just a part of his constitution, and it's completely out of his own control.)

(Matias-sama has been relentlessly pursued by women because of that constitution, and it's always caused him nothing but grief.)

(That's why it's wrong of me to feel jealous. ......I know it's wrong, but......)

Even when I tried to use reason to suppress my feelings, the prickly ache refused to go away.

I absolutely hated myself for harboring such jealousy.

Noble Man: —Excuse me, are you here alone?

Emma: Eh?

Suddenly, a noble-born man appeared from the side and held out a glass, causing me to reflexively take it.

Noble Man: Which house do you belong to, my lady? To think you don't have anyone accompanying you...... You must feel terribly lonely.

Noble Man: If you don't mind, would you care to chat for a bit over there?

Emma: Ah, um......

He firmly wrapped his arm around my shoulder, attempting to lead me away by force—when suddenly—

Matias: Thank you for traveling such a long distance to attend today.

A different hand gripped my arm, pulling me away from the noble-born man.

Noble Man: Oh, Matias-sama. It is an honor to meet you.

The exact instant the man turned around, Matias-sama quickly let go of my arm.

Matias: The honor is mine. Have you come as a representative for your father today?

Noble Man: Yes. He mentioned that long-distance travel is becoming too tolling for him now......

Matias: I see. Your father has consulted with me many times regarding the legal restructuring of his territory. Please convey my gratitude to him.

After that, their conversation regarding official duties continued for a while—

Matias: ......By the way, did you have some sort of business with her?

Noble Man: Ah, she looked rather lonely standing all by herself, so I was just calling out to her.

Noble Man: Is this lady accompanying someone? I would absolutely love to get closer to her, if possible......

Matias: She is my lover.

Noble Man: I see, so she is Matias-sama's—

Noble Man: Eh?

(That noble from earlier had the most incredible look on his face......)

After the man practically fled the scene, we moved out onto the balcony under the pretext of getting some fresh air to sober up.

Matias-sama had pulled me inside one side of his coat to keep me from getting cold. The sheer strength in the hand wrapping around my waist through the fabric sent a gradual wave of heat deep into my chest.

(......But Matias-sama was ultimately just stating a fact, and he spoke to that man completely normally.)

(No, that's exactly what's normal.)

(It’s not unusual to be approached by the opposite sex at a social gathering. If I let every single instance get to me, there would be no end to it.)

(I need to learn to be rational, just like Matias-sama.)

Matias: ......It seems we really do need to make it widely known that we are a lovey-dovey couple as soon as possible.

Suddenly, the hand wrapping around my waist tightened its grip.

Emma: Are you talking about how you get surrounded by women?

Matias: Hm? Ah, that as well, but......

Emma: I understand that it's just your constitution. Please don't let it trouble you.

Matias: I cannot simply let it slide. Doing such a thing right in front of the woman I love is—

Matias: ........

(What’s wrong, I wonder......?)

Matias-sama shifted his attention completely toward the space behind us, hyper-focused, like an owl picking up on the presence of its prey.

(......!)

Before I could even process it, he suddenly pulled my waist flush against him, and a tender kiss dropped onto the top of my head.

Matias: My apologies, I didn't mean to startle you.

He whispered softly against my ear, causing it to instantly burn with heat.

Emma: ......Please don't worry about it. But why did you kiss me so suddenly?

Matias: The fact that I found you completely irresistible is one reason...... but I also had a more petty motive.

Right then, I heard the sound of footsteps hastily retreating from behind us.

(Oh? Those footsteps—)

Emma: ......Ngh.

As if to forbid me from turning my attention backward, Matias-sama lightly caught my chin and pressed his lips against mine.

Matias: I wanted to kiss you properly right here, but a kiss meant purely as a display for someone else wouldn't taste very sweet.

Matias: Once we return to a place where no one can see us, I’ll give you plenty of them.

(A display......?)

With my mind gradually becoming intoxicated by his natural allure, I turned the meaning of his words over in my head.

(So that noble from earlier really was lingering nearby.)

(Which means......)

Matias-sama was jealous too—and that realization only made the heat deep inside my mind pulse harder.

Emma: ......Matias-sama, you always say you're terrible at keeping secrets, but as far as I'm concerned, you're perfectly fine at it.

Matias: Do you really think so?

Emma: Yes.

(I didn't notice he was jealous at all.)

Only now did the sheer strength of the grip he used when he yanked my arm back register in my mind.

My arm throbbed with a persistent ache, almost as if his mark had been left behind on my skin.

(When he says his "expressions of affection are lacking," maybe he's actually telling the truth.)

(Matias-sama's love might be vastly deeper than what he normally allows me to see......)

(And if that's the case, it means he's constantly using his reason to keep it under control.)

(If that reason were to completely vanish—)

Matias: Emma?

Emma: !

He peered down into my face, and his intense allure made my head spin.

The snow-colored eyes right in front of me looked incomparably tender, and for a moment, it seemed as though the ice of his restraint was starting to melt away.

(I want to kiss him.)

(But if we kiss right now, I know I won't be able to stop myself......)

In an effort to keep my own feelings in check, I leaned my head against Matias-sama's chest.

Emma: Would you mind just holding me tight like this for a little while?

Emma: If you don't, I don't think my own reason is going to hold out......

Matias: Hearing you say that only makes me want to unravel your composure even more, but I shall grant your wish for now.

Matias: After all, I have no desire to let any other man see how flushed your face is right now.

The strength of his embrace was tighter than usual, making my heart pound all the louder.

(Matias-sama is someone Achroite absolutely needs, so I can't keep him all to myself.)

(But I want his "desire"—at the very least—to belong solely to me.)

(Is wishing for something like that far too extravagant? Will I be punished for it?)

Basking in the warmth of the man I loved, I surrendered myself entirely to his chest.

However, that punishment would arrive far sooner than I ever anticipated.

—As a punishment that was sweet beyond measure.

And then, we returned to the room—

As he was helping me change out of my dress in front of the mirror, the incident at the evening party suddenly crossed my mind.

(I wonder if that woman who fainted is doing all right.)

(Thinking about it now, radiating enough allure to make someone outright faint is truly incredible......)

(Fortunately, I'm perfectly fine under normal circumstances, but—)

When I lifted my chin while turning over those thoughts, my eyes met Matias-sama's through the glass.

(......!)

That gaze of his stirred up an intense, burning heat—

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IkePri Masterlist

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Youran: ……And so, considering all of the above, I believe it's absolutely necessary to use this suicide incident as a starting point to launch a new program focused on teenage mental health.

Finishing my very last word, I picked up my water glass and took a massive gulp, soothing my throat which had grown quite dry from the long pitch.

This program was a decision I had spent a great deal of time turning over in my mind over the past few days.

I didn't want a tragedy like this to play out in Loveland City time and time again, repeating its vicious cycle across different families.

Most importantly, I couldn't forget the profound sadness in those eyes from the memories.

Yet when I set my glass down, eagerly anticipating everyone's feedback, the only thing I received in return was a wall of utter silence.

Youran: .....

The fluorescent lights in the conference room gleamed blindingly bright. Kiki kept her head down, calmly typing away on her laptop, while Willow stared in my direction, her expression completely detached and miles away.

As if repeating a past scene, this situation where absolutely no one stepped up to echo my thoughts was playing out once again.

Deciding to call on someone directly, I shifted my gaze squarely onto Minor, who merely offered me a sheepish, awkward grin.

Minor: Haha, I'm down for whatever you say, Boss. It's just that this topic really isn't my area of expertise, so I don't have much to add.

Youran: What about everyone else? No thoughts at all?

Employee: Boss, I have a few thoughts.

Relieved that someone was finally willing to join the discussion, I let out a breath and gestured toward the unfamiliar employee sitting at the end of the table.

Youran: Go ahead.

Employee: I just feel like this angle might be... a little too niche?

Employee: Our previous exclusive scoops did really well, so shouldn't we keep riding that wave?

Employee: For instance, what if we interview the victims' families, classmates, or teachers? See if there was any teen romance involved? Any school bullying? Or signs of depression?

Employee: That's the only way to keep the topic trending...

Youran: I'm not trying to keep a topic trending.

The words left my mouth before I could stop them, cutting him off.

Youran: I want our programs to be exactly like they used to be—to have social responsibility and a meaningful impact on society.

I put extra emphasis on the words "used to be." The employee froze for a moment, then simply shrugged with a pout, letting the matter drop.

The atmosphere stiffened into a standstill once more, and Kiki stopped taking notes, glancing up at the clock.

Anna: If no one else has anything to say, we're not going to reach a conclusion here.

Anna: Some of our colleagues need to rush over to keep up with the filming for the new micro-drama. Production over there moves incredibly fast, and they're really short-handed.

Anna: Youran, how about we hold off and push forward with this another day?

Youran: .......

Of course I knew exactly which micro-drama Anna was referring to.

Two years ago, in order to keep up with the times, the Loveland Media company had launched a micro-drama division.

Because the company's main focus at the time was still on promoting Odyssey, this department's revenue had always been fairly mediocre.

But during the six months I was gone, it had somehow become a gold-star project, second only to Kiro's brand power.

The shooting schedules revolved entirely on a weekly rotation. Both the actors and the staff members complained endlessly about the grueling pace, yet no one could pull themselves out of this frantic race.

—But compared to the youth suicide crisis unfolding right in front of us, was making this kind of fast cash truly more important?

The pulse in my temples throbbed violently. I did my best to keep my emotions in check, closing my eyes for a brief moment.

Youran: Let's table it for now, then. Everyone can get back to work.

The meeting ended abruptly just like that. As they passed by my side, the employees all carefully kept a certain distance away from me.

It felt as though an invisible line had been drawn right between us.

I returned to my office and sat quietly for a while. Not feeling in the mood for work at all, I decided to go grab a cup of coffee.

While waiting for the coffee to brew, I suddenly caught the sound of muffled voices coming from the dining area just outside the door.

Employee A: ……I seriously feel like Boss has changed a lot since she came back this time.

Employee B: Yeah, I think so too. Plus, she won't listen to anyone else's input at all. She's just completely stuck in her own world.

Employee B: Doesn't she realize those ideas of hers are incredibly boring? Who would even want to watch stuff like that……

I knit my brows in sheer disbelief, only to hear yet another voice chime in.

Employee C: Personally, I think Boss is actually doing all right. At least she hasn't been aggressively squeezing our KPIs like those other companies nearby.

Employee C: I heard that over at Xinyu Media, the monthly performance targets are high enough to scare anyone to death. If you don't come up with a viral idea, you're thrown straight into the bargain bin!

Employee B: Whoa, Xinyu is really that extreme?

Employee C: Yeah, haven't you guys scrolled past that stream by the Detective Brothers?

Employee A: I know about that! They actually snuck into the funeral home to film those high schoolers who died!

Employee C: They're seriously willing to go all out, so it makes sense that they went viral. Man, I want to shoot a viral hit like that too…

Employee B: Forget it, Boss would absolutely never allow it.

The employees' voices gradually faded into the distance, yet I remained rooted to the spot in front of the coffee machine, my head buzzing as I questioned if I had somehow misheard.

Filming inside a funeral home…… has it really come to this point just for the sake of views?

Granted, the media industry had always been one that moved forward by chasing whatever was trending, but for the general standards to have plummeted this drastically was still utterly absurd to me.

That subtle, unsettling feeling washed over me once more, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I took a sip of my coffee and casually opened up the video page for the Detective Brothers they had been discussing.

The background music blasting out of the phone speaker gave me a sudden jolt, and I hurriedly mashed the volume button down to mute it.

On the screen, the main gates of Loveland High School came into sharp focus.

Two middle-aged streamers with bloated, aggressive faces were dressed in Loveland High uniforms, spraying spit as they spoke directly into the camera.

Streamer A: Family, say less! We crashed the funeral home last time, and today we're bringing you guys an even bigger stunt!

Streamer A: See these Loveland High uniforms we're wearing? Today, we're climbing right over the wall to experience our buddy Wang Xiangyu's school life firsthand!

Streamer B: Once the likes hit 100k, we'll drop part two. Put your trust in the Detective Brothers—even if the person is dead, we'll dig up every single piece of dirt they left behind!

Youran: …What?

A surge of fury shot straight up my spine, and I could hardly believe my eyes.

Publicly exposing the name of a deceased minor completely violated the most fundamental professional ethics of the media industry!

And they were even going so far as to use it as content to experience his life?

Compared to the gossip I had overheard in the breakroom just moments ago, seeing the actual content of the video with my own eyes was a far more massive shock.

I tapped into the comment section, only to find that not a single viewer seemed to think there was anything wrong with their behavior.

Some were even treating it like a sideshow, commenting things like let's see if there are any pretty girls at Loveland High first, or fully supporting 200k likes for a bonus bungee jump without a rope.

My fingertips scrolled mechanically through the feed. Every single video from these Detective Brothers was paired with over-the-top special effects, and the content itself had absolutely no bottom line.

Nauseated to my core, I immediately slapped a report on every single video and backed out of their homepage.

Before the new recommendations on the main feed could even finish loading, a slender hand suddenly appeared from the side and deftly slid the phone right out of my grasp.

???: What are you scrolling through so intently?

A familiar, bright voice rang out, resembling a ray of sunshine piercing straight through the dark clouds.

I lifted my head and found myself looking straight into that sea of gold.

Kiro stood there wearing a soft knit sweater, a brilliant smile capable of washing away all worries resting on his lips as he gazed gently down at me.

Youran: .....

That stage resembling a deep, mysterious forest, the empty and deserted city night, and the sunflower growing stubbornly out of the ruins at our parting……

The images flooded over me like a tidal wave.

Those memories, which didn't feel distant to me at all, were still vividly colorful inside my mind.

This person had explicitly told me that the moment I returned, he would be the very first to come see me.

Yet here we were, crossing paths in a place like the Loveland Media breakroom, leaving me without even enough time to fix the expression on my face as I stood frozen to the spot.

Kiro looked at me, blinking in confusion for a moment, before his gaze flicked down to my phone screen and his smile grew even wider.

Kiro: Oh, so you were just staring at me. Well, that's completely understandable then.

With a quick flick of his wrist, he lined the phone screen up right next to his cheek.

The video that had failed to load a moment ago was already halfway through, and the star of the clip possessed the exact same face as the person standing before me, radiating brilliance on screen.

Neon lights flashed in the video, and a surging tide of supportive comments practically buried every single corner of the screen.

His handsome, exquisite face was perfectly captured by the system without a single obstruction, forcing every character to make way for his features.

On stage, he was a dazzling, blinding sun, but the version of him standing right in front of my eyes felt much more like a tiny star belonging to me alone.

As the video cut to a final close-up of KIRO, Kiro crinkled his eyes at me in real life.

Kiro: Good morning, Boss.

I still hadn't fully recovered from the massive emotional impact of our reunion, and this not-unfamiliar title made me feel a bit out of place, leaving me instinctively reaching for a closer nickname.

Youran: ……How come you don't call me Miss Potato Chips anymore?

The upward curve of Kiro's lips stiffened for a fraction of a second before softening into an expression of helpless amusement.

Kiro: I was just teasing you, silly.

He slipped the phone back into my hand, changing his tone to repeat himself with absolute sincerity.

Kiro: Good morning, Miss Potato Chips. We finally meet again.

His tone was light and cheerful, and his face was bright with smiles, completely identical to the Kiro I had always known.

Perhaps…… he was one of the few who had escaped those sweeping changes?

The heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settled back into place thanks to his familiar tone, and a smile broke across my own face.

Youran: Good morning, Kiro.

Kiro: See? A smiling Chippy is the Chippy I know best.

Kiro: You looked so incredibly upset just now. I only carried out a sneak attack because I wanted to surprise you and help change your mood.

Kiro: I didn't expect it to backfire completely…….

Youran: No, not at all! I was just so surprised that I couldn't quite process it for a second…………

Kiro: Really?

As Kiro asked, he examined my face closely with sparkling eyes, looking exactly like a small animal observing a human.

My cheeks flushed slightly under his intense gaze, and I nodded without fully understanding why.

Youran: Really.

Youran: Speaking of which, I actually wanted to see you the very moment I got back from that place, but I couldn't get through to your phone.

Youran: Later on, I asked Savin, and he told me you were completely locked away writing songs……… Have you officially come out of hiding now?

Kiro's expression stiffened for a fraction of a second, and it took a few moments before a slightly embarrassed smile crossed his features.

Kiro: I'm sorry, I didn't expect to be locked away for so long this time either.

Kiro: Ugh, if I'd known, I never would have gone into hiding at a time like this. It was a total waste of time.

Youran: Don't call it a waste of time.

Kiro: But it really was a waste of time……..

I froze for a moment, the realization suddenly hitting me.

Youran: Don't tell me you hit...

Kiro: Yep, I've got writer's block.

Kiro pouted, giving me a completely honest answer.

Kiro: You have no idea, I've been losing my mind lately. No matter how I try to arrange the music, it just feels off. And the second I finally get a good feel for the melody, I draw a total blank on the lyrics…

Kiro: Ahhh, when is the god of inspiration going to come back to me?!

Listening to him vent his frustrations in such a familiar, rambling manner left me feeling a little dazed.

It felt as though we were simply sitting together on an ordinary afternoon six months ago, with him confiding all his worries to me.

This kind of artistic struggle had popped up countless times throughout his career, and its sheer normalcy brought me a profound sense of relief.

Kiro: Hey, daydreaming again?

Kiro waved his hand in front of my face, snapping me back to reality.

Youran: Sorry, I was just……

I started to explain myself, but Kiro cut me off with a laugh.

Kiro: No need to explain. You just have to tell me whether you're up for it or not.

Youran: Huh? Up for what?

He drew a little closer to me as he spoke, his eyes crinkling into crescent shapes.

Kiro: Up for heading over to the studio to listen to my new song, of course!

Youran: Yes!

I nodded in agreement without a second thought, grabbed my freshly brewed coffee, and walked out of the breakroom by his side.

Arriving at Kiro's studio, the moment I pushed the door open, I caught sight of a certain familiar little guy.

Youran: Cello!

Sunlight streamed in at an angle from the window, catching on that little ball of fluff.

Cello was curled into a heap right in the middle of some scattered sheet music, his tiny belly rising and falling rhythmically, clearly fast asleep.

My heart softened instantly, and I crept over on tiptoe to stroke Cello's plush fur.

Cello let out a vague, rumbling purr, clearly enjoying the scratches.

Youran: It must be so nice to be a cat.

Kiro: What was that?

Youran: Nothing, I just suddenly felt like no matter how much the world changes, cats always seem to sleep perfectly fine.

Youran: …Unlike humans, where absolutely anything could happen the moment you wake up.

Youran: You never know what kind of people you'll run into, what kind of things will happen, what will make you happy, or what will stress you out…………

I gently pinched Cello's ear, mumbling under my breath.

Youran: Sigh, I'd honestly rather be a cat.

Kiro: Hahaha, so true. Humans are the worst, we're definitely better off as cats.

His voice trailed off slightly as he reached the end of the sentence, and he repeated it softly, his eyes lighting up.

Kiro: Hey, I feel like I could actually use that line in the lyrics for my new song!

Youran: You can really do that?

Kiro: Of course! See, you really are my muse. The second you get here, you give me inspiration.

As he spoke, Kiro pulled up his phone's notes app with an utterly serious expression, logging the line straight into his lyric booklet.

I blinked as I watched him, feeling like something wasn't quite right, but the moment I met those sparkling eyes, it felt as though nothing had changed at all.

Youran: By the way, how come you brought Cello over to the studio?

Kiro: He's been living here lately, keeping me company while I write songs.

Youran: Oh, then wouldn't Clayone be incredibly lonely all by himself…… I mean, all by herself at home?

Kiro: Clayone won't be lonely.

I paused, about to press further, but Kiro had already picked up the guitar resting against the wall and plucked a string.

Kiro: Why are we spending all our time talking about those two when we just got here? Let's get back to the main event.

Kiro: The exclusive preview of Kiro's new song starts right now.

For a split second, a faint, unsettling sensation washed over me, but it vanished in a flash. The next moment, the music was already playing.

The plucking was light, and the opening bar felt like he was checking the tuning, or perhaps testing the atmosphere.

Very quickly, a familiar melody flowed from his fingertips like running water.

Kiro: Da-la-la~ la-la……

His soft, gentle vocals blended with the beautiful guitar chords, drawing me in until I was completely immersed before I even realized it.

Following our usual habit, I leaned my head in to rest on his shoulder, but right at that exact moment, Kiro swayed his body along with the rhythm, shifting slightly outward.

Because of that, my head completely missed his shoulder.

I turned to look at him with a hint of awkwardness, only to meet his smiling eyes once more.

Maybe we just missed each other by pure coincidence.

Tossing that tiny bit of dejection to the back of my mind, I threw myself right back into his music.

I let his singing, together with the warm autumn sunshine, soothe my entire mind and body until I felt completely cozy.

As the final note drew to a close, Kiro let out a long breath.

Kiro: How did it feel?

Youran: It's so beautiful. It still has that signature Kiro love song vibe, just like always~

Youran: But that melody in the middle sounded a bit familiar. Isn't that from a discarded draft of an old track you wrote six months ago?

Kiro: Wow, your ears are way too sharp. I can't believe you noticed that…

Youran: Hehe, as long as it's your music, I keep all of it locked in my heart.

Youran: So, are you planning to bring that discarded draft back to life?

Kiro: How should I put it…… I actually didn't want to use it, since it really does have a few flaws.

Kiro: Putting out something flawed for my Miss Soda Pops to hear is definitely not Kiro's style.

Kiro: But no matter how I write the new melody, I just can't seem to express the exact emotion I'm looking for.

Youran: What kind of emotion are you trying to find?

Kiro: Hmm…… It's really hard to describe.

Kiro knit his brows in slight frustration, counting down on his fingers as he looked at me.

Kiro: It's that kind of feeling where you want to keep a person all to yourself, where you want that person to give you their absolute everything, and where you want that person to exist in your life for all eternity……

Kiro: When I tell other people about it, they act like I'm speaking pure gibberish.

Kiro: What about you? Do you think it sounds really strange too?

Youran: How is that strange at all?

I found it completely unbelievable, the words leaving my mouth almost instinctively.

Youran: Isn't that exactly what we mean to each other?

Youran: Kiro, how is it that after six months apart, you've somehow managed to become sillier instead!

Kiro: ......

Kiro parted his lips slightly, his eyes widening in a daze.

His blue eyes seemed to be veiled by a faint mist of recollection, and his tone was brimming with uncertainty.

Kiro: Is that how it is?

Kiro: So between us…… that's the kind of emotion we share?

Before I could even process why he was asking something like that, it was as if a sudden realization had washed over him. His eyes ignited with a brilliant light, and he caught hold of my hand in a tight grip.

Kiro: Yes, I remember now!

Kiro: That really is exactly how it is between us!

Kiro: Youran, I seriously can't live without you!

As the words left his lips, he pulled me straight into his arms.

His embrace was incredibly intense, as if he were holding onto a long-lost treasure he had finally recovered.

Through the thin fabric of our clothes, I could feel his heart hammering at a frantic pace, echoing in perfect synchronization with my own.

I returned his embrace in a bit of a daze, feeling as though I were wrapped in a wave of warm air, though my mind was starting to work a beat too slow.

Could it be that Kiro hadn't viewed our relationship this way before?

Just then, he loosened his hold on me slightly, his blue eyes deep as a hidden pool, brimming with an emotion I couldn't quite read.

Kiro: Youran, let's go out on a date right now.

For a fleeting split second, I thought I felt a faint ripple of Evol energy.

I instinctively tried to track down its source, but the afternoon sun was simply too lazy, and Kiro's smile was far too gentle.

It left me completely unable to focus on these tiny details, and I could only nod my head like a stray leaf caught in the wind.

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Chapter 2-02

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Early the following morning, I arrived at the edge of the West Lake ahead of schedule, locating the small boat I had reserved the previous evening at the small boat pier.

The destination I needed to visit today was Three Pools Mirroring the Moon.

I paid the fare and boarded the boat, waiting a little longer for a few other passengers to climb aboard before the boatman began pulling at the oars, rowing us toward the center of the lake.

A succession of cool breezes swept across the surface of the lake, the water rippling into layer upon layer of crests as the oars cut through it.

I cast my gaze down toward the surface of the water, lifting the camera to snap a photo.

Boatman: Please do exercise caution, miss. Even though the waters of the West Lake are quite shallow, if that camera of yours drops in, it will still be ruined by the soak.

Me: .....

Without a shred of hesitation, I hung the camera back around my neck.

This was the camera the artist had lent to me. It would be one thing if I couldn't complete the job, but I had absolutely no desire to pay out of pocket for a replacement camera.

The small boat sailed toward the center of the lake, the rough silhouette of Three Pools Mirroring the Moon gradually emerging into view.

Boatman: We will be arriving at Three Pools Mirroring the Moon in just a moment.

Boatman: If everyone remains seated in the boat, you will be able to see the reflections of the three stone pagodas cast upon the surface of the lake.

The passengers aboard the boat all grew eager and restless at the boatman's words, lifting their phones to capture the reflections of the stone pagodas resting upon the water.

I lifted my camera along with them, pressing the shutter while aiming at the three stone pagodas.

Beneath the lens, there seemed to flash a silvery-purple glinting…… serpent's tail?

The color of that serpent's tail was dreamlike and illusory, singularly enchanting.

Doubt rising in my mind, I lowered my head to check the photograph, when the hull of the boat suddenly jolted and shook violently.

The very next instant, I plunged directly into the water.

The lake water instantly filled my mouth and nose, and I lifted my head upward with all my might, my legs thrashing in the water as I attempted to keep myself afloat.

Yet no matter what I did, I couldn't maintain my balance, my struggling arms gradually losing all their strength as my body sank downward against my will.

The surrounding sounds were swallowed up by the flowing water, and my vision steadily grew blurry, though a sudden wave of heat pulsed across my chest……

I opened my eyes, only to find the unfamiliar face of a young girl suddenly magnifying right in front of me.

Before I even had the chance to ponder who this person was, a single thought consumed my mind—thank goodness I'm not dead.

The two of us locked eyes, and the young girl suddenly let out a startled cry.

???: Miss, you're awake?

Why is she calling me miss? Where on earth am I right now?

Shifting my gaze away from hers, I sized up the surrounding environment.

The room was filled with an ancient air, the draped curtains soft and bearing a soothing, calming fragrance; the young girl in front of me had her hair styled in twin buns and wore a blue ruqun.

Barring any surprises, I had definitely run into a surprise.

I must have arrived inside a completely new instance world, yet the system hadn't provided me with a single prompt, leaving me entirely devoid of information.

Going by every single time-travel novel I had ever read, usually at a moment like this, the protagonist is supposed to fake amnesia.

I looked back at the young girl once more.

Me: Don't worry, I'm awake.

Me: Who are you? Where am I?

Me: Why can't I remember anything at all?

I massaged my head with my hand, putting on a thoroughly bewildered expression.

???: Miss, why must your life be so bitter!

The young girl's mouth puckered, and she threw herself onto me, weeping a storm while blurting out things like, "that truly scared me to death," and, "it's just wonderful that you were able to return."

I patted her back to comfort her, and once her emotions took a turn for the better, I asked her for details regarding "my" situation.

Through our conversation, I learned that I am the second young lady of the Xu family, a business dealing in medicinal herbs within the city of Lin'an. My name is Xu Y/N, and I have an older brother named Xu Xuan, whom I have depended on for survival since childhood.

The young girl standing before me is the maidservant who grew up alongside me, and her name is Xiaoman.

There was originally a husband belonging to the estate as well; he was a live-in son-in-law, thoroughly gentle and refined.

My husband and "I" shared exceptionally deep affections, but a short while ago, he accidentally fell into the water and drowned while traveling to Zhenjiang to visit relatives, leaving no trace of his corpse behind.

Unable to accept the loss for a time, I followed suit and threw myself into the lake a couple of days ago.

The waters of the West Lake are not particularly deep. After I jumped in, Xiaoman called for people to fish me out, yet there was absolutely no way for them to retrieve me.

In the end, I was rescued by someone else and brought to the opposite shore.

Xiaoman: Miss, you truly scared me to death.

Xiaoman: The master may be gone, but your good days are far from over. You must absolutely never act on such impulses again in the future.

Xiaoman's words carried an underlying edge, making it sound as though she wasn't particularly satisfied with the live-in son-in-law.

Me: Having died once, I can consider myself to have fully come to my senses. I won't go looking for life and death like that again.

I used an excuse to dismiss her from the room.

Me: Xiaoman, I am hungry.

Xiaoman: I will go prepare some food for you right away, miss! I will also send word to the young master so he can return from the manor early.

Me: Mmh, all right. You go on out first.

The absolute second Xiaoman departed, I hurriedly searched my person, and sure enough, my camera was already missing.

The last time I entered the ancient world, it was because I used the camera to take a photo; leaving that ancient world was likewise accomplished through snapping a picture with it.

If I can locate the camera, I might be able to leave this place.

Reflecting upon this, I rolled out of bed.

I searched all over the area, yet I still failed to discover any sign of my camera.

Exhausted and drenched in sweat, I sat down before the table and poured myself a cup of cold tea, when a patch of yellow suddenly flooded the periphery of my vision.

Shining under the illumination of the sunlight, that yellow object cast off a metallic luster, with ripples of light flowing across its surface.

No, that's not right...

It didn't seem to be light flowing across a yellow object; rather, the yellow object itself was moving.

I focused my gaze to look closer, catching clear sight of the distinct scales resting upon its body. It was a snake!

A massive yellow snake, as thick as a water bucket, was currently coiled at the foot of the bed, slowly slithering its way toward my direction.

I wanted to fling the door open and flee, yet my body felt exactly as if some sort of spell had been cast upon it, rendering me entirely incapable of movement.

The swaying motions of the snake's body grew increasingly pronounced, and it arrived right in front of me before long, its freezing scales pressing against my body through my outer clothing.

My teeth chattered, and my voice finally broke through my throat, crying out.

Me: Ah—!

With that shout, strength seemed to be reinjected into my legs. I hurled the teapot from the table straight toward the massive snake, turned on my heel, and bolted outside.

Several servants looked over toward my direction.

Me: There is—there is a snake inside.

The servants snatched up various tools one after another and rushed into my room.

???: What happened?

The sound of a steady, composed male voice carried over.

I turned around, seeing a man dressed in a green robe walk through the circular archway, moving with rapid strides in my direction.

Presumably, this person had to be my older brother, Xu Xuan.

He paid absolutely no heed to the commotion the servants were making, halting his footsteps the moment he arrived in front of me. Catching hold of my arms, he inspected me thoroughly from head to toe.

Xu Xuan: My dear sister, you are at long last awake. You truly scared me to death.

Xu Xuan: Your husband is gone, and I know well that you are grieving, but you must keep on living a good life. If you were no longer around, what on earth would your brother do?

Biting the bullet, I gave him a nod.

The servants filed out from my room, every single one of them wearing a thoroughly dejected expression across their faces.

Servant: Young Master, Miss.

Servant: We didn't spot any signs of a snake inside your room.

There was absolutely no way they could fail to see a snake of that massive size. Just as I was about to question them, a sudden thought struck me—

How could a snake of that massive size possibly materialize inside my room completely without a sound?

Unless it wasn't any ordinary, proper snake, or otherwise, I was experiencing a hallucination.

Xu Xuan knit his brows slightly.

Xu Xuan: A snake made its way inside? Send a couple of maidservants in to look around.

For male servants to enter a young lady's private chambers was, after all, somewhat improper according to the rules of this era.

Xu Xuan: Xiaoman, Guyu, move the young lady over to the eastern wing to stay for now. As for the rest of you...

Xu Xuan pointed a finger toward the male servants.

Xu Xuan: Go search through the surrounding grass and bushes. Do not allow any snakes or insects to startle the young lady.

Everyone complied with his orders with deep respect.

Xu Xuan looked back over at me.

Xu Xuan: Y/N, let us return to the front parlor. Your brother had the servants prepare some old chicken broth to help nourish your body.

I flashed a faint smile toward Xu Xuan.

Me: All right.

I was still fully preoccupied with my camera; when I plunged into the water from the West Lake boat, it should have been together with me.

Since I had arrived in this world, it ought to have come along as well.

Me: Gege, have you by any chance spotted an object that is completely pitch-black, square, and looks rather like a box?

Xu Xuan: Completely pitch-black? I haven't seen anything of the sort.

Xu Xuan: What is the matter?

Me: No, it's nothing.

It wasn't inside the room, and Xu Xuan hadn't seen it either. Where on earth did my camera drop?

...

During the night, I slept within the eastern wing. Before drifting off, I spent a while pondering where the camera could have dropped, and another while considering how exactly I could go about locating it.

Falling into a hazy, bewildered sleep, I witnessed a spider demon attempting to devour me, and a water ghoul trying to drag me under to drown... Having slept through the entire night, I actually felt far more exhausted than if I hadn't slept at all.

—

Early the next morning, my energy was entirely depleted. As I sat before the mirror doing my hair and makeup, Xiaoman discovered that there were two distinct bruises resting upon my neck.

They appeared as though someone had choked me, yet they simultaneously didn't seem to be caused by a person, because those two marks were remarkably large—it was impossible for a human being to possess fingers that were the size of half a palm.

Xiaoman trembled with fright as she applied powder over my bruises.

Xiaoman: Could it be that the miss brought back some sort of unclean entity with her from the West Lake?

Xiaoman: How could this possibly be something choked out by a person? Why don't we head over to the Lingyin Temple to request a safety talisman?

Me: Xiaoman, you are not allowed to talk such nonsense!

I reprimanded Xiaoman, yet my own heart was completely devoid of certainty as well. If this place didn't harbor supernatural forces that defied the natural order, there was no way I would have materialized here in the first place.

Furthermore, this wasn't the very first time I had encountered demons and monsters...

The one saving grace worth celebrating, however, was that even if there were indeed demons and monsters, they were currently still incapable of doing anything to me.

Xiaoman puckered her lips with a deeply aggrieved expression.

Xiaoman: I absolutely cannot keep this hidden on the miss's behalf, otherwise the young master is bound to blame me if something happens to you.

After Xiaoman finished attending to my washing up, she immediately went to find Xu Xuan to report my condition.

Xu Xuan requested a physician to come and treat me, and the physician prescribed several doses of medicine meant to calm the spirit, yet my symptoms of waking hallucinations and nightmares, far from easing up, actually grew more severe by the day.

Even during broad daylight, the number of times I "ran into evil forces" within the courtyard was so high that it left me somewhat unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy.

Xu Xuan, being a person of ancient times, naturally adhered to the exact same rhetoric as Xiaoman.

He pushed aside his business matters to personally accompany me to Lingyin Temple to burn incense, donating a considerable amount of incense money to procure a protective amulet for me.

Right before our departure, I spotted someone lighting rebirth lamps in front of the incense burner. Thoughts of my husband—whom I had never even met in person—crossed my mind; he had drowned to death, so it was highly probable that his departure from this world had been far from peaceful.

Adhering to the principle that I was already here anyway, I lit a rebirth lamp on his behalf as well, requesting the master to perform a deliverance ritual for his soul, hoping he might ascend to the Pure Land at an early date.

The path leading down the mountain was difficult to traverse, and Xu Xuan chatted with me in a casual, intermittent manner as we walked.

Xu Xuan: Your husband was a live-in son-in-law to begin with. If you happen to take a liking to any other gentleman, your brother will surely seek out another ideal match for you.

Having spent the past few days interacting with everyone, I discovered that aside from the version of myself that existed in their retellings, it seemed nearly everyone possessed a rather mediocre impression of this live-in son-in-law.

Since they weren't genuinely forcing me to get married anyway, I offered a succession of agreements just to escape Xu Xuan's nagging.

Upon returning home, the absolute second I stepped down from the carriage, Guyu came sprinting out in a thoroughly excited manner.

Guyu: Young Master, Miss! The master has returned!

Me: The master?

Xu Xuan: My brother-in-law?

My face was completely blank with bewilderment and shock—

I literally just lit a rebirth lamp for him, and the person is already back?

First I had to put on an act in front of Xu Xuan and Xiaoman, and now I have to put on an act in front of my husband as well.

Xu Xuan cast a glance toward me, flicked his sleeves, and crossed over the threshold with large, strides, heading straight toward the front parlor.

I followed along slowly behind him.

Stepping past the folding screen, my eyes first caught a glimpse of a silvery-purple hemline, and following the edge of his robes upward, my gaze met a cascade of white hair as lush and wavy as sea anemone, draping loosely down.

He possessed an astonishing, breathtaking beauty; merely by sitting upon the pearwood chair, he caused the entire residence to be bathed in a brilliant radiance.

It was Xia Xiaoyin.

How could it possibly be Xia Xiaoyin?!

How could someone like him ever become a live-in son-in-law for anyone... let alone accidentally fall into the water and drown.

A wave of sheer absurdity washed over me.

What felt even more absurd was that Xu Xuan, who had clearly displayed dissatisfaction toward this brother-in-law of his previously, didn't question him in the slightest regarding where he had gone after falling into the water, or why he was only returning just now.

Instead, he simply sat to one side, leisurely savoring tea alongside Xia Xiaoyin.

Xia Xiaoyin clearly noticed my gaze, lifting his eyelids as his smoke-purple eyes rested upon my face like an encroaching mist—indifferent, distant, and evaluating.

After a long beat, he tilted his head, his finger tapping lightly against the rim of his teacup.

Xia Xiaoyin: Y/N.

He called my name, his voice carrying a subtle trace of mockery that left me with an inexplicable, uneasy sensation of having my identity entirely seen through by him.

Me: Mmh, you're back.

Biting the bullet, I offered a reply, yet he didn't give me another response in return, merely letting out a soft, faint grunt.

Wasn't everyone supposed to be dissatisfied with this live-in son-in-law? When he spoke to me in that kind of tone, why on earth did everyone still bear expressions full of joy.

Even Xu Xuan, who had literally just been advising me to remarry a moment ago, was no exception.

Xu Xuan: Xiaoman, my brother-in-law has returned. Hurry over to Zuixiang Restaurant and reserve a banquet table.

Xiaoman was thoroughly excited as well.

Xiaoman: Right away! We must first wash away the dust of travel for the master.

Me: .....

Strange... this is truly bizarre.

Could it be that the moment everyone catches sight of Xia Xiaoyin's beautiful face, they can forgive absolutely everything he does? That is obviously highly improbable.

I resolutely refuse to be someone who is seduced by beautiful looks; I have to clear up the mysteries surrounding his person.

After a moment's thought, I walked over to his side and sat down.

Xia Xiaoyin glanced at me, his eyes appearing not particularly friendly.

Gathering my courage all at once, I pulled at his arm, welcoming an even more freezing glare from him.

Me: Husband, a short while ago when I thought you were no longer with us, I couldn't accept it and followed suit by throwing myself into the lake too.

Xia Xiaoyin watched me in complete silence.

Me: Thank goodness Xiaoman had people fish me out, but my memory was damaged, and I've forgotten a great many things.

I shook his arm, intentionally putting on an affectionate front.

Me: I heard from Xiaoman that the affection between us was exceptionally deep. Won't you tell me a bit about the things that happened between us?

I was trying to bluff Xia Xiaoyin.

Xia Xiaoyin's smoke-purple eyes swept across my face, and he let out a laugh that seemed to hover right on the edge of existence.

Xia Xiaoyin: We will speak of it during the night.

Me: ......

Talk about killing two birds with one stone—not only could he muddle his way through, but he even managed to arrange exactly where he would be staying tonight.

Except sleeping in the same room is not particularly great for me; deceiving people during the day is easy enough, but doing so at night is an entirely different story.

Me: I've been plagued by nightmares constantly when sleeping lately, husband. If you sleep alongside me, I am afraid I might disturb your rest.

Hearing this, Xia Xiaoyin raised his brows slightly.

Xia Xiaoyin: Sleep together?

Me: Are we not sleeping together?

That's absolutely perfect. I failed to keep my excitement in check.

Catching sight of the smile resting upon my face, Xia Xiaoyin let out a soft grunt.

Xia Xiaoyin: Our affections being as deep as they are, I naturally must accompany you.

The words "accompany you" were bitten down upon with exceptional emphasis, carrying a sinister edge as if he were actually saying, "devour you."

I let out an involuntary shiver, the smile still piled high across my face, yet I released my hold on Xia Xiaoyin's hand with lightning speed.

Xu Xuan, appearing entirely incapable of reading the room whatsoever, let out a couple of light, dry chuckles.

Xu Xuan: The affection between my sister and brother-in-law is truly as deep as it has always been.

I offered a couple of dry, hollow laughs in return.

Before long, Xiaoman returned from Zuixiang Restaurant bringing the servants along with her.

We enjoyed the meal together, and then spent a short while watching the moonlight within the courtyard.

Procrastinating until the time could absolutely no longer be delayed, I finally rose to my feet and walked toward the eastern wing, Xiaoman and Xia Xiaoyin following behind me.

His gaze rested upon my person, leaving me with an uneasy sensation of being stared down by some sort of irresistible, colossal entity.

Flinging the door open, in a single instant, I once again witnessed a monster with a bull's face and a human body raising an axe to hack down at me. It was as though I could still smell the immense, foul, and stench-filled hot air blasting out from its nostrils.

Even though I had encountered plenty of bizarre occurrences recently, I still couldn't hold back my terror, taking a step backward.

As luck would have been it, I crashed straight into Xia Xiaoyin.

His chest was remarkably broad, and with that slight collision of mine, I could also feel the freezing chill radiating from his skin.

The eerie, bizarre demonic energy standing before me vanished entirely in a flash.

Xia Xiaoyin forced my body around to face him. Under the moonlight, his smoke-purple eyes appeared incomparably magnificent, yet they simultaneously betrayed a hint of demonic strangeness.

The strength in his hands as he pressed down on my shoulders was immense, nearly crushing me, while the gaze lingering upon my face carried an intense aggressiveness.

I recalled Xiaoman's description of the master—gentle and refined. How on earth was this current appearance of Xia Xiaoyin's gentle and refined?!

I felt uncomfortable being stared down like that, so I twisted my head away.

The very next instant, long, freezing fingers pinched my chin, forcing me to lock eyes with him.

Xia Xiaoyin: This truly is a rarity.

Me: What is?

Xia Xiaoyin had absolutely no intention of offering me an answer, releasing his hold on me in a casual manner.

Xia Xiaoyin: You are not permitted to leave the periphery of my vision for now.

Me: Why?

Xia Xiaoyin: You have an objection?

Yes, I do, of course I do! Is there any live-in son-in-law in the world who is as overbearing as you are?

Yet I only dared to grumble inwardly, not possessing the courage to actually speak it aloud.

Me: No, I don't have any objections whatsoever!

Me: I was just wondering, does my husband intend to accompany me by my side when I bathe as well?

Xia Xiaoyin glared at me, stepping around my person to enter the room a step ahead of me.

A Xia Xiaoyin like this bore some resemblance to the Xia Xiaoyin I had encountered previously, and I suddenly felt a touch of familiarity from him.

Lifting the hem of my skirt, I followed him into the room, turning around to close the doors.

Inside the room, Xia Xiaoyin gave his sleeve a flick, and the two door panels slammed shut right in front of me with a loud thud.

Xia Xiaoyin: I will watch you bathe.

If he had the nerve to say such things, I certainly didn't have the stomach to listen to them.

Me: What if I were to say I am unwilling?

Xia Xiaoyin lay upon the bed with his clothes fully intact, casting a casual glance toward me.

Xia Xiaoyin: Then that depends on whether you possess the capability.

Me: No, I definitely don't possess that capability.

Me: Since you've put it that way, I certainly wouldn't dare to possess such capability.

Xia Xiaoyin withdrew the gaze resting upon my face.

I shed my outer coat, washed up a bit, and climbed into bed, crossing over Xia Xiaoyin to lie down by his side.

Xia Xiaoyin's eyelids didn't stir in the slightest.

The night was as cool as water, and the skin of the person beside me was freezing as well. I wrapped myself tightly within the quilt, urging myself to hurry up and drift off to sleep.

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Part 6

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A darkness resembling a screen shutting off flashed before my eyes, and when I blinked them open again, I discovered I had returned to ancient times once more.

I was currently lying upon the bed inside Yi Yu's room, and the interior of the house had already grown dim.

I touched the area right below my neck, feeling two small, round, shallow puncture marks.

Yet in the very next instant, they vanished without a trace, looking exactly as if they had completely healed over within a brief single second.

I got out of bed and headed straight downstairs, only to find that there was absolutely no one inside the medical clinic.

Seeing that the main doors were just about to be shut closed, I immediately called out at the top of my lungs.

Me: Wait!

I sprinted over quickly, meeting the eyes of Xu Xian, who had paused his movements.

Xu Xian: Meimei, is there something the matter?

Me: Brother Xu…… why is there no one inside the clinic? Are you shutting the doors to go somewhere?

Xu Xian: Didn't Dr. Yi tell you? Starting from this afternoon, the medical clinic will be closing down for two days.

Me: Did he say what the reason was?

Xu Xian shook his head.

Xu Xian: I am not entirely clear, but I suppose it is because today happens to be the Dragon Boat Festival.

Me: Then what about Yi Yu? Where is he?

There wasn't a single trace of his presence to be found anywhere inside the clinic.

Xu Xian: You don't know either?

He let out a sigh.

Xu Xian: How can he leave his own wife completely in the dark without a single word of explanation? Leaving you to worry like this for absolutely nothing.

Xu Xian: I could have stayed behind to look after you, but I promised to go and pick up your sister-in-law, and I must set off this very instant...

Me: It's totally fine, I can take good care of myself.

Me: I'll just wait around here and see. Perhaps he simply went out for a bit and will be back in a little while.

The absolute second the words left my mouth, I suddenly registered that something was off.

Why did these words from Xu Xian sound so incredibly familiar?

I had asked him about his wife before, harboring some curiosity as to whether she was truly Bai Suzhen from the Legend of the White Snake.

But I hadn't asked in such a direct manner—after all, acting as his sister, it would be impossible not to know even the most basic details, so I had merely dropped some indirect hints.

Yet Xu Xian had only mentioned that his wife had returned to her family's home.

He had said back then that he was going to pick her up immediately, and that they would return together the following day.

Yet afterward, it seemed as though I still had never caught sight of that wife of his...

In fact, no one had ever genuinely laid eyes on her.

I paused for a brief moment, asking once again.

Me: I see…… Then when will you be back?

Xu Xian: Tomorrow, we will return together.

The moment those words were uttered, the happy smile resting upon his face began to seem a little peculiar as well.

Me: ……All right, have a safe trip.

I dropped the latch from the inside to lock the door, and the interior of the medical clinic plunged into total silence for a time.

Inside the empty front hall, a wave of chilliness felt exactly as though it were invading my physical body. Turning around, I walked with hurried steps straight back to the room upstairs.

Just as I was thinking of drinking a cup of tea to calm myself down, I discovered a package of my favorite treats resting upon the table, with an envelope placed right beside it.

I unfolded the letter, finding that it was in Yi Yu's handwriting.

The letter mentioned that he had some urgent matters to attend to outside over these next two days and had already made arrangements with the tavern manager to have three meals delivered to me every single day.

He also enjoined me to stay safely inside the medical clinic, and even told me exactly where the money was kept in his room, telling me to go ahead and take it if it wasn't enough.

I marveled at how he was entirely too trusting of me, leaving his entire net worth completely exposed in such a casual manner.

Then, I couldn't help but wonder what on earth could possibly be so urgent that it would make him leave all by himself in such a massive rush.

Ah? Wait a second. Since Yi Yu went out and I am the only single person left in the medical clinic, doesn't that mean my movements won't be restricted at all anymore?

Truth be told, I still suspected that Yi Yu had taken my camera, but I had never found an opportunity to search for it thoroughly, and now I would have an abundance of time.

Let's start right with Yi Yu's room.

The prescription I had dug out right before passing out had already been returned to its original spot, looking as though Yi Yu didn't hold a grudge over the matter either.

I proceeded to root through the space with even greater scrutiny, but right when I was pushing aside the books on the bookshelf, my fingers brushed against something sticky.

I looked down at my hand, spotting a striking streak of red right on my fingertip.

Is this…… blood?!

Shocked, I looked toward the exact spot I had touched just now, and upon that specific edge of the bookshelf, there was indeed a faint trace of blood as well.

The blood trail reached the exact spot where the bookshelf pressed against the wall, and then it vanished from sight entirely.

Why would there be blood inside his room? Did Yi Yu get hurt?

This bloodstain was highly peculiar too, looking exactly as if someone had accidentally left it behind while holding onto the bookshelf to try to walk forward.

But walking forward would lead straight into a solid wall?

I was just thinking of conducting a more careful examination, when unexpectedly, the moment my hand made contact with the surface of the wall, that exact spot seemed to distort all of a sudden.

A powerful suction reeled me straight into that space, a flash of silver light burst before my eyes, and I found myself standing atop an unfamiliar flight of stairs.

Resting right by my feet was a burning fire piston, looking exactly as if someone had dropped it here in a massive rush.

The surroundings were pitch-black, with only the flame illuminating a tiny patch of the area, making it impossible to see what the situation was down below.

I picked up the fire piston and softened my footsteps, and after walking down roughly several dozen steps, I caught the sudden sound of a suppressed, muffled groan.

I halted my movements instantly, focusing my attention to discern the sound carefully.

Intermittent noises drifted over from that direction, looking exactly as though someone were enduring some immense agony.

It wasn't until I thought I caught a faint mention of my name that I confirmed the person over there was indeed Yi Yu.

I hurriedly dashed toward the direction of the sound source.

The firelight melted right into the dark corners.

Me: Yi Yu?

The voice cut off completely in an instant, followed by an order to stop that carried a tiny hint of pleading.

Yi Yu: Don't come over.

I paused for a brief moment, but still continued to press forward anyway.

Me: Are you hurt?

Me: Do you need me to get you some medicine…

The word "or" was swallowed whole by the scene unfolding before my eyes.

In the corner illuminated by the firelight, a sweep of silvery blue-green completely flooded my field of vision.

It was a long, thick, and massive serpent's tail, the scales coating it reflecting a faint, eerie luster.

Against the black ground, the serpent's tail transitioned from silver-white to blue-green, and a thin, nearly transparent layer of membrane lay discarded in a heap at the very end of the tail.

This is…… he was shedding his skin.

Yi Yu, who had originally been half-curled up in the corner of the wall, slowly straightened his body.

Yet piled up all around his body were, unexpectedly, my own blankets and clothes, looking exactly as if they had been fashioned into a nest.

The front of his robes was slightly loose and disheveled, his eyes had already transformed into vertical slits, his gaze was dazed, and his breathing was heavy.

Pure and elegant, yet utterly intoxicating.

He was staring at me with a fixed, unblinking gaze.

Yi Yu: You aren't afraid?

Although this scene was somewhat unexpected, because of everything that had happened before, I had already guessed that he was a snake demon.

Me: I was mentally prepared, so I'm doing all right.

I wasn't sure if it was due to the light, but his pupils constricted a fraction more, making him look increasingly like a mythical beast.

Me: Where are you hurt? Let me see.

Yi Yu: It has already healed, but…

He appeared to be somewhat weak, his serpent's tail shifting slightly as his body sank right back down into my blankets and clothing.

Me: Is there anything you need me to do to help?

Yi Yu: Yes…

Before the word had even fully left his mouth, a sudden tightening clamped around my waist, and I was reeled toward him by something coiled around me.

The fire piston fell to the ground, a silver-blue spark flashed once, and just like that, it went out without a sound.

In an instant, the place plunged into pitch-black darkness once more.

I tumbled into a freezing cold embrace.

That serpent's tail loosened for only a fleeting moment before wrapping itself right back around my legs and waist, locking me securely against the front of his body.

Yi Yu: I need you.

I was sitting right upon his serpent's tail, those scales brushing and rubbing against me.

The fluctuating waves of chilliness and the faint, elusive tickling sensation made me want to pull away slightly, only to be bound even tighter by him.

Me: Yi Yu...let me go a little…

It seemed as though he was completely unable to internalize any words now, merely murmuring to himself in a low, hoarse voice.

Yi Yu: I am in some discomfort……

Yi Yu: Help me.

A warm, soft, yet distinctly chilly sensation pressed against my neck as his kisses began to rain down just like that.

I thought I caught the sound of a contented sigh by my ear, much like the sound of someone partaking in a feast.

The very next instant, he halted his movements entirely, looking exactly as if his sanity was still locked in a fierce tug-of-war.

Is…… is this his skin-shedding period? Why on earth does it look so much like……

Once the initial blindness from the gloom passed, Yi Yu's upper body became faintly visible before my eyes.

The expression of agony resting upon his face didn't seem fabricated in the slightest; on the contrary, it looked exactly as though he was doing everything in his power to conceal this pain right in front of me.

A thin layer of sweat beaded across his forehead, and the veins on the side of his neck were faintly taut and straining.

I couldn't help but panic, completely unsure if this skin-shedding period was exceptionally difficult, yet desperately wanting to soothe his agony.

Yi Yu's eyes were beginning to lose focus a little.

I hurriedly cupped his face in my hands, shaking him gently while calling his name in a soft voice.

Me: Yi Yu? Yi Yu……

I pressed soft, gentle kisses all over his face, continuing to whisper his name.

Finally, I placed a kiss right against the corner of his lips.

The very next instant, the tables turned completely.

The lurking mythical beast had, at long last, captured its prey.

Warmth and chill collided, intertwining deeply, as water and vapor rose to wrap around one another within the cramped, narrow space.

My mind had already dissolved into complete chaos, getting swept up and dragged down into the depths of the ocean alongside him.

In my daze, I thought I caught the sound of festive music and ritual performances celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival outside.

At times it felt faint and elusive, entirely unreal, yet at other times it felt as though it were echoing right around my immediate surroundings.

The musicians were playing a movement, plucking and kneading the strings with varying degrees of force, or perhaps executing a flawless synchronization to stroke and manipulate that single resilient string.

Inch by inch, the string grew soft and supple, as though the cool breeze had entirely siphoned away its strength, ultimately dissolving into a scattered, drifting drizzle.

I felt as if I were about to be robbed of every single breath, and unable to endure it any longer during a brief interlude, I pushed against his shoulders to back away.

Because of the skin-shedding, his state of being had become unstable once more, becoming even more intense just now as the transitions between those two states grew tighter and more frequent than ever before.

I truly couldn't bear it.

Me: That's enough... Let me rest.

Yi Yu let out a soft laugh, pecking kisses along my earlobe and jawline.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the serpent skin that had still not completely shed.

Me: Isn't it finished yet?

Yi Yu: The shedding just so happened to clash with the Dragon Boat Festival. During this specific time, I am a bit weaker than usual.

Me: Is there any way to counteract some of the effects?

Yi Yu: Let me think..... There is a way.

Yi Yu: Only, I was in such a rush when I came in that I didn't bring the item along with me.

Me: What is it? Where was it placed?

Yi Yu: A ritual artifact, though it will still require a bit of help from you.

Me: All right, tell me.

Yi Yu: The artifact is underneath the pillow in my room—a bronze ritual disc engraved with a lotus pattern.

Yi Yu: Take one of my scales, place it into the center of the artifact, and then drop some of your ordinary human blood into it, and that will do it.

I nodded my head, and Yi Yu subsequently released his hold on me.

Taking the scale he handed over, I stood up and got ready to retrieve the fire piston, but my body—which had still not recovered its strength—caused my legs to go weak, nearly sending me tumbling down.

I was caught just in time by Yi Yu's serpent's tail.

Yi Yu: Do be careful.

And who exactly is the culprit behind all this? I let out a soft huff at him and blew upon the fire piston to reignite the flame, catching the sound of his short, brief chuckle from right behind me.

I retraced my steps, quickly locating the ritual artifact exactly where Yi Yu said it would be.

I placed the scale into the center of the artifact and found a needle to prick my finger.

The sharp prick of pain radiating from my fingertip snapped a sliver of my rationality back into place.

The hand I had been about to use to drop the blood into the disc recoiled just like that.

Something feels a bit off…

From the moment I spotted the letter, to the bloodstains I found while rooting through the room, to witnessing Yi Yu's troubled skin-shedding process—everything was entirely too coincidental.

It felt exactly like a trap designed well in advance.

If he truly didn't want me to find out, he definitely wouldn't have let me detect something amiss so conspicuously, and there was absolutely no way I would have found him this easily.

Furthermore, would a mere Dragon Boat Festival genuinely exert such a massive impact on a powerful demon?

I plunged into deep hesitation for a time.

To be on the safe side, it's better not to follow his instructions blindly for now; I should ask a few more questions before making a judgment.

With that in mind, I carried the ritual artifact back to where Yi Yu was.

Yi Yu cast a glance at me, presumably deduction that I hadn't drawn any blood, yet he didn't press the matter, merely leaning against the wall in complete silence.

Me: Yi Yu, I have something to confess to you.

Me: I am actually not exactly an ordinary human being, so my blood probably won't be of any use.

I probed, testing the waters.

Me: How about I help you find someone else instead?

Yi Yu didn't appear the least bit surprised by my statement of not being an ordinary human being.

He fell silent for a brief moment.

When his voice rang out, it still seemed to carry a faint smile, yet it bore an unmistakable tone that brooked no argument.

Yi Yu: That will not do.

Yi Yu: The blood must be provided by someone who is closest to me, someone who bears my aura.

Yi Yu: You are my wife; only you can fulfill this.

Yi Yu: You will help me, won't you?

I clenched my palms tight, doing everything I could to ensure my face didn't betray any trace of abnormality.

Me: Of course.

The train of thought that had been thoroughly scrambled by the succession of shocking scenes earlier was finally gathering back together piece by piece.

Both instances of traveling through time occurred because my camera had captured photos featuring Yi Yu. That meant this camera should be the key item responsible for the shifts in time and space.

And as long as I used it to take a photo of Yi Yu, I would be able to execute the jump.

Me: It's just that with this non-ordinary human body of mine, a problem could arise at any given moment.

Me: Do you still remember that camera I mentioned to you before?

Me: Only with the assistance of that item can I maintain a stable state of being.

Me: A pity it was lost before……

Me: Perhaps within a matter of days, I will gradually fade away into nothingness.

The long serpent's tail trailed across the ground, and not even the most luxurious Shimmering Brocade in all of Lin'an could match a single fraction of its splendor.

Yi Yu stretched out his tail, the very tip of it wrapping around my ankle exactly like a shackle.

Yi Yu: You suspect I am the one who hid it?

Me: Am I wrong?

Yi Yu laughed.

Yi Yu: My apologies. Let us return the item to its rightful owner this instant then.

He was saying sorry, yet his voice didn't sound the least bit sincere.

I felt a loosening amid the strands of my hair, and that bamboo-branch hairpin floated right into the air before my eyes, transforming back into my camera the absolute second I grabbed hold of it.

Suppressing the spike of nervousness inside my heart, I made a show of acting natural as I prepared to use the camera to snap a photo of Yi Yu.

If I did this, I would be able to return to the modern era.

He was capitalizing on my emotions, attempting to exploit my desperate urge to save someone so that I would let my desires cloud my judgment, ultimately tumbling right into his trap and remaining imprisoned inside this timeline forever.

If that was his game, why shouldn't I turn the tables and use that exact same leverage to break free?

The very moment I flipped the switch, Yi Yu's voice echoed out in an eerie, ghostly manner.

Yi Yu: Did you truly believe that you could leave simply by withholding your blood?

A sudden chill shot straight up my spine.

The vertical slits of his pupils had constricted into near-pinpricks, gleaming with a faint, silvery blue-green luster.

It was a sign of complete beastialization.

He had seen right through my intentions and directly concealed his presence.

With Yi Yu's form vanishing from sight, there was no way for me to capture any part of him with the camera anymore.

Only his voice continued to reverberate throughout the space.

Yi Yu: When you tell a lie, you must be fully prepared to suffer the consequences.

In a flash, a streak of silvery blue-green burst through my field of vision, charting a direct course straight toward the camera. I curled my body downward instantly, shielding the camera securely against my chest.

That silvery blue-green streak dissolved into nothingness the split second before it could make contact with me.

This was likely Yi Yu's demonic power.

He wants to destroy the camera!

His state of being was already unstable to begin with, and his current thoughts and actions leaned far more toward a primal, beastly nature.

With his rationality completely overridden by instinct, he was now driven solely by his most intense desires.

This won't do; if things drag on for too long, there is absolutely no way I will be able to keep protecting the camera.

There might very well be other methods designed to trap me lying in wait down the line, and a single careless misstep could mean remaining here for all eternity.

I have to force him to reveal his physical form; only then will I have a chance of snapping a photo of him to return to reality.

Gritting my teeth, I made a desperate dash toward the exit, running as fast as my feet could carry me.

I need to get to a place with light first before figuring anything else out.

The low chuckle of the mythical beast echoed from some unknown quarter, looking exactly as if he were taking his own sweet time watching his prey make one final, desperate struggle.

With the enhancement from my Silhouette, I fled from the secret chamber all the way outside the room.

Looking at the railing on the second floor, I steeled my resolve and directly made a show of throwing myself over the edge.

The absolute second my upper body leaned out, a hand clamped tightly around my waist, pulling me back to a position of safety.

I tried to seize the opening to use my camera, but my hand was seized in a tight grip, rendering me completely unable to move.

Yi Yu buried his head against my neck, his breath tangling all over me.

A voice that was invariably gentle actually overflowed with a hint of crazed obsession.

Yi Yu: Are you truly so unwilling to stay?

Yi Yu: Simply because I am a demon?

Yi Yu: Saying that you weren't afraid of me……

Yi Yu: Liar.

The secure, unyielding embrace allowed my emotions to settle down slightly.

As long as he is still capable of communication, things can work out.

Me: That isn't the reason at all, don't let your mind run wild.

I was just thinking of giving him a proper explanation, but as it turned out, the main doors of the medical clinic downstairs were pushed open at that exact moment.

Xu Xian's voice drifted over immediately following that.

Xu Xian: Meimei, I still felt uneasy…

Yi Yu held me tight and swapped our positions instantly, but it was already too late to conceal his presence by then.

A terrified shriek rang out, followed by the heavy sound of something collapsing onto the floor.

Oh no—Yi Yu was still in his serpent-tailed form right now.

I turned my head to look, only to see that Xu Xian had already fainted from sheer terror.

Me: Let's head back into the room first, and then…

Who could have anticipated that before one wave could even settle, another would rise, as a neighbor's voice echoed from right outside the main doors at the exact same time.

Neighbor: Haha, what is it, are you truly that exci……

Another sharp shriek erupted.

Neighbor: Ahhh! A demon! A snake demon!

The neighbor's figure flashed past the cracked opening of the door for only a fleeting instant before the terrified screams faded away into the distance at lightning speed.

Only a scattering of phrases like "Xu Xian's wife" and "massive white snake" came drifting back through the air.

......This was a massive misunderstanding.

The succession of blunders completely cut through our entanglement, and looking at Yi Yu's serpent's tail, I realized that trying to force my way out would only trigger his negative emotions.

And as for the two of us, it was high time we laid our cards on the table.

Me: Yi Yu, let's head back inside the room first, all right? If more people see you, it will be very bad for you.

Yi Yu: Are you worrying about me? Or are you trying to lower my guard again?

Me: I am worrying about you.

Those were indeed my genuine feelings, so Yi Yu registered my sincerity as well, loosening his hold on me a fraction.

Me: Don't worry, I won't act like I did just now. I want to have a proper talk with you.

He brought me back inside the room.

He still didn't drop his guard entirely, knowing that me pointing the camera at him was bound to be a crucial element, so he used his demonic power to conjure a dense cloud of gray mist to envelop the camera completely.

He held me close in his arms, forcing me to face him directly.

The instincts of a mythical beast are always exceptionally sharp, and he stared into my eyes just like that, intending to use them to gauge the truth or falsehood of every single word I uttered.

The eyes are the windows to one's emotions, reflecting the inner thoughts of a person better than anything else.

Me: Remember to make sure Brother Xu is taken care of in a little while.

Yi Yu: Your very first words to me are about him?

Me: You're the one who scared him out of his wits in the first place.

Me: Also, that wife he keeps talking about doesn't actually exist, does she? Him suddenly deciding that I was his sister—was that your handiwork too?

Yi Yu: An accurate guess.

Yi Yu: He was infected by demonic energy, which caused him to display signs of mental derangement in the early stages. I had originally intended to leave him to his own devices.

Yi Yu: It was merely that you happened to appear at that exact moment, and I had a use for him. So after placing him under hypnosis with my demonic arts, I cleared away the demonic energy for him while I was at it.

Just as I thought. All that talk about using methods from ancient texts was a complete lie; he had been weaving a net to capture his prey right from the very beginning.

However, something else caught my attention.

Me: Infected by demonic energy?

Yi Yu: The remains of a powerful demon crashed into the West Lake, contaminating it with demonic energy that subsequently spilled over and scattered in all directions.

Yi Yu: The mortals in the surrounding areas possessed no resistance against it, so they were naturally left to be slowly consumed by the demonic energy.

So, that was the true cause behind this plague?

Then, the black mist I witnessed him absorbing from the patients inside the medical clinic that day—was that actually demonic energy?

Me: Did you open this medical clinic just to harvest that demonic energy?

Why not simply seize it directly?

Yi Yu replied in a thoroughly deliberate, unhurried manner.

Yi Yu: Demonic energy that has undergone the nourishment of flesh and blood is far more beneficial to my cultivation.

Beneath that gentle exterior, absolute detachment was laid bare.

Yi Yu: Still, it is nothing more than remnants inside the lake. This plague will vanish before very long.

I exhaled a soft breath, looking him straight in the eyes.

Me: All right, my turn.

Me: You know that I am not an ordinary human being, right?

Yi Yu: From the very first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew.

Me: So I didn't lie to you. I truly have no way of living here for a long period of time.

Me: To this world, a life form from another realm can only ever be a passing traveler.

Me: I must return to the place where I originally belong.

Yi Yu: What would happen if you didn't go back?

Although there was no mandatory quest prompt this time, shifting the consequences over to explain it shouldn't be an issue.

Me: Most likely, I will truly fade away.

I put it into gentler terms.

Yi Yu held me tighter in his embrace.

Yi Yu: Where is that place?

I fell silent, completely unsure of how to answer.

Me: I have to go back, Yi Yu.

Me: But I promise you, we will absolutely meet again in the future.

Me: These aren't just words to placate you. Trust me—if I say we will, we absolutely will.

I leaned in closer to him, pressing my lips against his.

Compared to before, this kiss was tender and lingering.

After we parted, Yi Yu held me close, lingering in our shared warmth for a good while longer.

After a brief moment, he withdrew the demonic power enveloping the camera, quietly waiting for my next move.

I turned on the camera and aimed the lens straight at him.

The shutter clicked, and Yi Yu's voice rang out at the exact same moment.

Yi Yu: When we meet next time.

Yi Yu: I will collect your compensation, with interest.

The scene froze upon the camera screen, and with another blink of my eyes, everything transformed entirely.

...

I had returned to that world from before, where I had picked up the oiled-paper umbrella to head out.

Right now, I was lying upon the soft daybed downstairs, the distant, profound notes of music echoing by my ear.

Someone was playing the guqin.

I got up, catching sight of a familiar figure standing with his back toward me under the veranda not too far away.

Stepping to the rhythmic cadence of the guqin notes, I walked toward him pace by pace.

The exact second the music came to a halt, I stood still just a single step away from him.

The fine drizzle tapped against the bamboo leaves, and the eave bells swayed gently in the breeze.

He turned his head around, his gaze no longer putting on a show of unfamiliarity, his features soft and gentle as he looked at me with a faint smile.

Yi Yu: Long time no see.

My fleeting departure was, to him, a literal, agonizingly prolonged "long time no see."

He rose to his feet and walked toward me, and I couldn't resist throwing my arms around him.

I could only whisper the sole phrase that could offer even a shred of comfort.

Me: I didn't lie to you, right?

Yi Yu: No.

Yi Yu slowly stroked my hair.

Yi Yu: The words uttered when we parted—they should still hold true, I assume?

I lifted my head, only to see that his eyes had transformed into vertical slits once more, his icy fingertips weaving through the strands of my hair, sending a sudden shiver running through me.

I was brought along over to that very same bath area where I had once taken my medicinal baths.

This entire residence had been heavily expanded on top of that ancient medical clinic, and many of its areas were vastly superior to how they had been in the past.

Outside the building, the willow strands were drenched with moisture, as the pattering rain continued to fall just like that throughout the entire night.

—

Early the following morning, after Yi Yu accompanied me to wash up, I proceeded to laze around in bed. He pressed a soft kiss against my forehead, telling me that he would come back to call for me when it was time for lunch.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, nuzzling against him.

Me: I will spend much more time with you in the future.

Me: So even if I am out of your line of sight, please don't feel anxious.

Yi Yu: All right.

Watching Yi Yu leave, I put on my clothes and crawled out of bed.

If I allowed myself to indulge blindly in this place, I would only be quickly paralyzed by his "toxins."

It was time to return to the real world.

I retrieved some paper and a pen, writing down a letter for Yi Yu.

It contained a farewell, as well as the words I truly wished to say to him.

Even if there are departures, we will still reunite in the end.

Perhaps when a certain day arrives, he will remember everything we have experienced together, and just like me, possess every single one of our shared memories.

By the time the letter reached its conclusion, the rain outside the window had already ceased.

I walked over to the front of the mirror, reaching toward the area right below my neck as I activated the power of my Silhouette.

Within the mirror, right at the position below my neck, a tiny, silver-blue scale flashed into view.

That was the exact spot where I had been bitten before.

This must be the very "connection" that was causing me to remain trapped here.

Last night, I had asked him about that ritual artifact from back in ancient times.

Yi Yu had mentioned that by utilizing the scale from his heart during his skin-shedding period, combined with my blood, it would be capable of "binding" us together, making me stay behind.

The reason I remained lingering here even after returning from ancient times was likely because this place also harbored something meant to hold me back.

Now, I had located it.

I pinched that scale and, with the enhancement from my ability, pulled it off my neck with ease.

Inside the mirror, my body quickly began to vanish into thin air as well.

I closed my eyes.

When I opened my eyes once more, I was sitting upon a bench right by the edge of the West Lake.

Subconsciously, I looked down to check on my camera, and then unconsciously glanced toward the hand that had been pinching the scale just moments ago.

A single bamboo leaf drifted downward, settling gently into the palm of my hand.

I fell silent for a brief moment, picking it up and walking over to the lakeside. Loosening my fingertips, the bamboo leaf floated onto the surface of the water, slowly drifting away with the flow of the lake.

Of spring's beauty, two-thirds dissolve into dust, and one-third vanishes into flowing water.

I stared at the shimmering, rippling waters of the West Lake for a short while, until a cool breeze blew across the lakeshore and a seabird flapped its wings, landing right upon the bank.

It felt exactly like waking from a daze.

I looked down and turned on the camera in my hands, only to discover that its battery was nearly depleted.

Furthermore, every single one of the photos I had previously taken related to Yi Yu was completely gone, leaving behind not a single trace.

Does this…… mean that I have successfully left the instance?

During this entire period, every single instance of my time traveling seemed to be connected to this very camera. In the world of the instance, it acted exactly like a time machine, and the shutter was the switch.

The camera was given to me by that butler. Could he possibly know something?

If he knew this was a time machine, then what exactly was his purpose in handing this item over to me?

It appears highly necessary to go and confirm this once again.

I pulled out my phone to take a look.

I had spent an exceptionally long period of time inside the world of the instance, yet the date currently displaying on my phone was still the exact same day I originally entered it, with only a few hours having passed in reality.

Since it was still early in the day, I hurriedly packed up my belongings and rushed toward the artist's estate.

I arrived at the artist's estate, and the person who received me this time was, once again, the butler.

Butler: Miss Y/N, have you finished taking the photos so soon?

The expression resting upon the butler's face remained soft and polite, and noticing my hurried demeanor, he even poured a cup of water to help me.

Me: Not yet.

There was bound to be something wrong with this camera; I was incomparably certain of this fact now, which meant the butler who handed the camera over to me was bound to have something wrong with him as well.

Using the excuse that there was an issue with the camera, I threw out a few feelers to test the butler, yet he didn't display a single thing that was worthy of my suspicion.

Could it be that…… I haven't actually left the instance yet? If that's the case, then what exactly is the quest for this instance?

Supposing that I am indeed still inside the instance right now, then this butler might very well be an NPC belonging to it.

If he is an NPC, then no matter how much I probe and test him, he won't expose a single flaw.

Even if I were to ask him directly, he likely wouldn't give me an answer anyway.

However, all of these are merely my own conjectures.

After all, even if I am currently in the real world and the butler is a person belonging to reality, there is still no way for me to bring up things like "time travel" or "instances" with him.

The details I can glean are entirely too vague, and I haven't received any system prompts or identity generation like I did in the past.

As things stand now, outside of simply following the butler's requirements for the time being, there doesn't seem to be any other choice.

After bidding farewell to the butler, I departed from the estate.

The twilight hours began to deepen as I passed by the Broken Bridge, my thoughts drifting back to the events that had unfolded before.

Every single piece of the surrounding scenery was completely indistinguishable from what I had witnessed when I first arrived at the West Lake; this place looked exactly like the real world.

But…… have I genuinely left the instance? Or could it be that this is merely an instance world that is completely identical to the real world?

By the edge of the Broken Bridge, the medical clinic where Yi Yu had been located had also vanished from sight, looking exactly as if it had never existed in the first place.

Yet when I returned for the very first time, it had unmistakably been standing right there.

There is absolutely no way for a building to vanish completely into thin air inside the real world, right? The events I experienced after my time travel were also entirely different from what I knew.

Right now, I must indeed be trapped inside an instance world that mirrors reality.

In that case, what would happen if I used the camera to snap another photo? Would I travel through time once more?

Just to be safe, it's better to throw out a feeler first……

I halted my footsteps and scanned my surroundings, facing toward the Broken Bridge by the roadside. Finding the exact same angle as before, I lifted the camera, and then pressed the shutter with a deeply apprehensive heart.

Nothing happened.

There was no time travel, nor did I feel the least bit dizzy.

How on earth is this time travel triggered in the first place?

Holding the camera, I proceeded to press the shutter against other pieces of scenery surrounding the Broken Bridge.

Still, no time travel occurred.

The butler explicitly mentioned that I should follow the angles of the old photographs to take my pictures. Could it be that this time travel is connected to specific scenery? Is it possible that I will only cross over when capturing the exact locations he requested?

By this time, twilight had already descended, and the streetlamps along the roadside had flickered to life.

There were still three remaining locations left to shoot, but the lighting would be poor at night, the scenic spots were closing up, and the West Lake cruise boats had long since finished their shifts for the day.

It would be better to return tomorrow instead.

————

Moment with Yi Yu

The medicinal bath area had been drawn into an artificial hot spring, the silk-like fine drizzle transforming into a faint, gentle vapor the absolute second it made contact with the spring water.

The refreshing fragrance of the herbs was originally supposed to clear one's mind, yet I found myself feeling somewhat intoxicated from the fumes of that very scent instead.

I felt a shred of regret for agreeing to his terms so easily, and I had completely forgotten to consider whether—if he were to claim the compensation was insufficient—I would even be capable of letting him extract more from me.

He held me securely against his chest, his serpent's tail coiled tightly around my waist, while the tiny scales at the very tip of his tail brushed and rubbed against my calves.

The spring rain fell like fine silk threads, cool vapor settling across his temples and dampening his hair, as the bitter fragrance of the herbs slowly seeped into the crook of my neck inch by inch.

Me: Yi Yu, it's been so long already... haven't I paid you back enough yet?

He lifted his head, those vertical, serpentine slits of his eyes locking onto me through the swirling mist, appearing both otherworldly and deeply affectionate.

Yi Yu: Enough? How could it ever be enough?

Yi Yu: The debt you owe accrues interest over time.

Yi Yu: Principal and interest—I intend to settle the score with you very slowly.

He let out a soft chuckle, pressing a tender kiss against the corner of my lips.

The very next instant, I suddenly realized that a different pair of hands had come to cover my eyes.

Behind my back, another presence belonging to Yi Yu materialized.

Yi Yu: Mmh? Remaining silent... does that mean you prefer it this way?

Yi Yu: This is what you promised me. Is the other me not me as well?

Yi Yu: Do you like this place?

Yi Yu: Snakes have a reverse scale too. Yes, right here, a bit further up.

Yi Yu: Be gentler. If you apply that much force, it will be painful for me too.

Yi Yu: You don't like it here? Then where do you wish for it to be? Here?

Yi Yu: The night is still young. Isn't it a bit too early to rest now?

Yi Yu: This is naturally still far from enough. Mmh, because it is double now, we have to recalculate the score.

Yi Yu: You can't bear it already? Yet I feel you can still hold out a while longer.

Yi Yu: Don't push me away, all right?

Yi Yu: You can still pinch me, so it seems you still have some strength left? Then give me a bit more, won't you?

Yi Yu: You find it overwhelming? Yet your heart is racing so fast. Are you excited? Because of me?

Yi Yu: We haven't reached the end just yet. You cannot run away.

Yi Yu: Endure it a little longer. You won't pass out.

Yi Yu: I love how you look right now. We both love it.

A promise uttered must always be fulfilled, and a debt incurred must be exacted back, principal and interest.

...

Yi Yu at long last released his hold on me.

The supple serpent's tail surfaced from the water, gliding along my arm as the tiny scales sent wave after wave of shivers running through me.

Presumably due to being submerged in the warm spring for so long, that originally freezing touch had also turned warm.

The serpent's tail gently wiped away the water resting upon my face, yet the wicked snake demon still bore an entirely insatiable expression.

Burial his head once more in the crook of my neck, a contented sigh overflowed from the very depths of his throat.

I pushed against him, though despite the gesture, I actually had absolutely no strength left in me whatsoever.

Behind me, a strand of long hair also draped across my chest, while the tip of my ear was still being nibbled and gnawed by his sharp fangs.

Me: Yi Yu.

Me: Is it still not enough? I am so tired... I can't even move.

I didn't even know which Yi Yu in this room I was speaking to.

I caught the sound of him letting out a soft chuckle, two distinct voices overlapping perfectly with one another.

Yi Yu: For what is owed here, let us settle up to this point for now.

Yi Yu: We will head back, and then calculate the remainder.

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Part 5

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For a few days after returning from the market bazaar, I felt that Yi Yu was acting a bit unusual.

During our time together, he seemed to possess two distinct states of being.

The difference between them was incredibly subtle, yet it wasn't completely without a trace.

One state was the Yi Yu I typically interacted with on a daily basis, who would frequently observe and imitate the way ordinary married couples treat one another without making a sound, then put even more meticulous care into replicating it for us.

Yet underneath his actions lay a foundation akin to that of a wild beast, and he had not yet learned how to camouflage it flawlessly.

Once when he took me out shopping, he and I bought a pair of matching couple's jade pendants.

While he went to wait in line to buy some flaky pastry for me, I watched a martial arts acrobatics show for just a short little while, only for the cord of the jade pendant at my waist to be slashed and stolen away.

Me: If I had known, I would have just tucked it safely inside my tunic....

Yi Yu: Don't worry. We will definitely find it and bring it back.

As it turned out, it really was recovered incredibly quickly; the thief had their hand violently snapped by someone, then was dumped straight onto the ground right where that acrobatics performance was taking place.

Before leaving the area, I used my Silhouette Search to investigate the scene, discovering tiny, silver-green specks of light floating right around the thief's injury.

When I turned my head around again, that exact same residue was resting right on the cuff of Yi Yu's sleeve.

It was the identical color of those scales under the candlelight from before.

The other state of being, however, left me a bit unable to see right through him.

He remained consistently meticulous and attentive toward me, from major tasks like cooking meals to minor details like brushing my hair—taking charge of nearly every single matter himself, carrying a subtle hint of a boiling-frog approach.

He was completely airtight, appearing even more gentle on the surface, yet he was far more cold-blooded toward outsiders.

A certain individual who came to the medical clinic for a consultation spoke to me with offensive language, pouring out nothing but vile, crude words the absolute second they opened their mouth.

At the time, I simply walked straight away and then staked out the entrance outside, utilizing my Silhouette to give him a thorough thrashing when there was hardly anyone around.

Who could have anticipated hearing afterward that the man had contracted some unknown toxin, rotting entirely from his mouth all the way down his body, begging for life yet unable to live, begging for death yet unable to die.

I related this matter to Yi Yu.

Me: All I can say is, what goes around comes around.

Yi Yu: Indeed, heaven has eyes.

Yi Yu: I heard that when the government authorities investigated his residence during their case, they ended up discovering a woman's corpse inside a dried-up well in his courtyard.

That exact day happened to be the very date of that individual's arrest. Standing on the outer edges of the crowd, with the assistance of my Silhouette, I caught sight of that familiar silver-green hue once again.

Although none of them were innocent people, it wasn't as if I had never wavered.

Perhaps that other side beneath his fleshly shell, the one I had caught a glimpse of previously, was nothing more than the mere tip of an iceberg.

It wasn't that I feared witnessing the true scale of that iceberg, but he likely assumed I would flee in terror, which was why he refused to swap the entirety of his truth with me.

Yet in reality, if one were to truly keep score, haven't I harbored secrets of my own as well?

That day, I walked back along the road with my thoughts tangled in such a messy clutter, only to spot Yi Yu holding a lantern and searching for me. The absolute second he caught sight of me, he hurriedly gathered me right into his arms.

Yi Yu: Where did you go? I couldn't find you anywhere.

Me: I just went out for a walk by myself.

Yi Yu: No matter where you go from now on, you must tell me first, all right?

Yi Yu: I was so worried.

His embrace carried that familiar warmth and scent, settling my heart and bringing me a sense of peace for reasons I couldn't explain.

At this very moment, and across so many other moments, what I felt was entirely real.

Me: Mmh.

Me: Let's go home.

In the city of Lin'an, right along with the arrival of the damp rainy season, a "plague" of unknown origin began to spread far and wide.

Lin'an's highly developed network of waterways and the frequent movement of its population caused the epidemic to rapidly diffuse, affecting the surrounding prefectures, departments, and counties.

Furthermore, the massive gatherings of refugees only accelerated the transmission of the disease.

In the initial stages, patients would suffer from headaches or aching joints, mirroring the symptoms of those afflicted with typhoid, seasonal influenza, heatstroke, or rheumatism.

Afterward, it would grow increasingly severe, bringing unyielding high fevers, ceaseless vomiting, and unbearable pain.

Baohe Tang had to admit several times more patients every single day compared to before, and Yi Yu refused to let me work in the front hall of the medical clinic ever since the plague broke out.

Therefore, I spent basically every day staying upstairs or in the back courtyard, helping out with miscellaneous chores such as processing herbal ingredients and brewing medicinal decoctions.

And every single day, Yi Yu would have me drink a bowl of medicine, claiming it was to prevent the epidemic, once in the morning and once at night.

After breakfast on this day, it was time for that unalterable, routine ritual of drinking the medicine once again.

The pitch-black, agonizingly bitter medicinal broth carried a peculiar, metallic tang of fresh blood the absolute second it passed my lips.

Suppressing my discomfort, I downed the entire thing in a single gulp.

Yi Yu fed me a piece of dried smoked plum, its sweet and sour flavor neutralizing the bitterness just enough to keep me from throwing the medicine right back up.

Me: This tastes awful…… Twice a day, every single day, it feels just like an execution, and a recurring one at that.

Me: I feel like my soul has been completely drained out of me…

Yi Yu laughed as he looked at my utterly expressionless, life-weary state, giving my face a gentle touch.

Yi Yu: Good medicine is always bitter to the mouth.

That was true, and compared to the agony brought by the plague, this tiny bit of discomfort was absolutely nothing at all.

After I stepped out of the room, I couldn't help but look down toward the lower floor, which was currently packed with people from all walks of life—all patients and their family members.

Me: You must have been incredibly busy lately. Aren't you exhausted?

As I spoke the words, I turned my head to look at him, but taking a closer look, I discovered that Yi Yu didn't show even a single trace of exhaustion; on the contrary, his complexion actually seemed much better than usual.

In stark contrast, Xu Xian had heavy dark circles under his eyes, a stubble he hadn't found the time to shave properly, and a gaze that couldn't conceal his deep fatigue.

Yet Yi Yu's workload was clearly even heavier than Xu Xian's…

Yi Yu: It is a bit hectic, which is why I hired some additional hands to help out.

Yi Yu: These times are turbulent. Stay safely at home and don't run around, all right?

Me: Mmh. You and Brother Xu need to be extra careful too. You absolutely mustn't catch the infection.

Yi Yu gave a gentle smile.

Yi Yu: Are you and Xu Xian very close?

Me: .....

Me: For your portion of dumplings at lunch, how about I fill your bowl to the brim with vinegar?

Me: I possess a feeling it would suit your taste perfectly.

Yi Yu let out a low chuckle.

Yi Yu: In that case, there won't be any dried smoked plums for you tonight.