CH 88.2

Kurou stopped speaking when we passed through the hall and arrived at the entrance floor of the mansion (shinden-zukuri). Then he bowed to the person who was waiting there.

Tamaki and I looked ahead to where Kurou was bowing... to the person waiting for us.

A purple-haired girl with a sword at her waist stood with her arms crossed in front of the house gate, looking thoroughly discontent...

Murasaki, a member of the retinue of the Akō family's visiting messenger, remained at the Onitsuki residence at her own request.

She is the niece of Onitsuki Sumire, who is not only her aunt, but also a master swordsman whom she couldn't be located while traveling throughout the country. Her aunt swordsmanship is of first-rate quality, even within the Akō family, and when she saw her aunt's swordsmanship, Murasaki was so entranced that she wished to become her student. According to rumor, her niece's sudden request was joyfully accepted by Sumire.

Naturally, Ako Seiichirou Yukinari, the eldest son of the Ako family, the representative of the visitors, was puzzled at first.

However, he was the most understanding, sincere, and benevolent of his siblings. He also had an unfair power to wholeheartedly crush any trap, conspiracy or ambush that came his way. I'm sorry, I don't understand how he can intuitively choose the best solution to youkai's ability to kill at the first sight.

But anyway, he accepted Murasaki's strong offer with a smile in the end, and returned to his home, leaving only a few servants behind. They also didn't forget to promise to meet his family in the capital in a year's time. ...No, wait. Does it really sound possible?

I mean, putting this girl with a bunch of death flags out of sight of her overpowered parents and siblings seems like a reckless act than throwing a naked maiden with spiritual power into a youkai's nest full of calamity youkai... but unfortunately, it was something that had been decided beyond my reach. I had no choice but to accept reality.

"So, for now, I'm going to break the flag like this..."

"What are you muttering about?!" Murasaki exclaimed, her tone incredulous. "Listen to me seriously... eek!"

I quickly caught Murasaki slipping on a banana peel and prevented her from falling. If she had fallen down, she would have hit her head on the garden stone and died. Well, this should complete my daily quest.

"Uh, um..." Murasaki's voice trailed off, her tone sheepish.

"Please watch your step," I point this out to her calmly as I stand her up. Well, if she watches her step, she might get a rock or a stray arrow next time.

No kidding, this girl faces some form of danger almost every other day. But, if that's the case, how did she survive until today? Or is it because of the start of the story? Regardless of how she's made it this far, I know I need to be on guard around her.

(After all, if she died within my sight, I would have a bad night's sleep, wouldn't I?)

And even if she doesn't appear in the story, the production team declares that the girl, whose life force is no better than that of a pikmin, is dead off-screen. but it is definitely better to have her alive if possible. Especially since it wouldn't be a joke if she died for such a stupid reason just like before.

"Uh, u-um... er... um?"

As I was thinking such a thing, Murasaki was still standing there and muttering to herself for a while. I mean, what's with the "um"? That's troublesome for me.

"*Giggle* she's embarrassed because she was trying to talk to you and you saved her."

Seeing Murasaki's embarrassed look, Tamaki gives me the answer in a whisper. Oh, I see. Well, I suppose that situation was a bit awkward.

"Miss Murasaki, excuse me. Please repeat what you just said."

I offer my help to the confused Murasaki. After hesitating for a moment, Murasaki, who had been wondering what she should say, pointed a finger at me and shouted, "T-that's right! You're always so rude and disrespectful! How dare you go to Kurou-dono's mansion earlier without inviting me?!" She scolded me while breathing heavily. It was the same old preaching and complaints that she had been giving to me and Tamaki just before she nearly died due to a stupid reason.

Murasaki, who was Tamaki's sister apprentice in swordsmanship, was requested to accompany Tamaki to monitor Namahage on this mission, and she accepted it wholeheartedly.

Perhaps she was dissatisfied because, from her perspective, it seemed like only she was excluded when I went to Kurou's place with Tamaki, her fellow sister apprentice. Well, there might have been some competitiveness towards Tamaki.

...But then again, I want to say, "Don't accept the mission in the first place, okay?"

"Servant! Listen to me!" Murasaki, once again, scolded me, noticing that I was thinking of something else. Seriously, it's annoying that she has a good intuition only at such a time. If she had such a good intuition all the time, I would be able to look away without worrying about her.

"P-please don't be so angry. Tomobe-kun visited Kurou-dono for my sake. Because I looked worried..."

"Tamaki-san, I didn't ask you! I'm questioning the servant there! Please don't interfere!"

Tamaki shot me a pleading look, but Murasaki was having none of it. Her response was sharp and unforgiving. It looked like Tamaki was scared because of that. She also seemed to regret having caused trouble for others while trying to help herself.

(Still, she is very protagonist-like, isn't she? In this world where it is normal to immediately shift the blame to others, her soul shines brightly)

However, from my point of view, it would have been more troublesome if Murasaki had directed her negative emotions towards Murasaki. So, I explained to Murasaki to defend Tamaki.

"...Miss Murasaki, you are from the prestigious Ako family. Therefore, judging that there would be no problem with this case, and because Tamaki has expertise in martial arts but no experience in exorcism, I did this as a precaution. If I am causing you to feel any negative impression, it is entirely my fault for lacking consideration. I apologize."

After explaining so, I bow deeply to express my apologies. This death flag girl, however, is not as twisted as Gorilla-sama or Blue Demon. She was so sweet that she should willing to forgive me if I honestly admitted my fault and apologized. So I apologize, covering myself with all the dirt. But...

"What!? Are you shielding the retainer there!? Do you really think I'm an idiot...!!!?"

(Has it failed?)

To my apology, however, Murasaki's reaction was outrage. Her angry attitude makes me cluck my tongue inwardly. It seems that my apology only added fuel to the fire. Did I take her a little too lightly?

"Miss Murasaki..." I began tentatively.

"Don't say my name so casually, you servant! It's rude!!" she snapped back, her voice dripping with disdain.

It seems I failed to calm her, and I had nothing more to say to her when she said that to me. As Murasaki lost her means to retort, she turned her gaze towards Tamaki, her expression sour with displeasure.

"You too!" she hissed, her tone venomous. "Don't talk too friendly with this servant. You're a retainer (household) and he's a servant. Be strictly aware of your position and do not disturb the order!"

"Uh, u-um..." Tamaki stumbled over her words, clearly unsure of how to respond.

"Well then, I have some individual training to do, so pardon me!!" Murasaki stomped her feet loudly and then left, looking displeased.

I watched her unhappy back disappear from view, feeling a sense of relief mixed with unease. Tamaki came to my side, looking contrite.

"Um... I'm sorry. Did I cause you trouble for my sake? She was very angry, wasn't she? I mean... are you okay?" Tamaki asked, her tone apologetic.

Perhaps she thought that the relationship between me and Murasaki had become strained because of her actions. She seemed to be worried that Murasaki might retaliate against me in some way.

"Don't worry about it" I reassured her. "Miss Murasaki may have a bit of a temper, but she's not the type of person who would do anything unjust."

Fundamentally, Murasaki is a clumsy girl to be a bad person. She is not the kind of person who would act out her malice, even if she has that temperament.

In fact, the only time she had ever acted viciously was when she had been "reborn" as a monster by Youbo (youkai mother) and had lost her sense of ethics. In that respect, I did not take her words so seriously. To me, I was more worried that she might slip and fall in the frozen puddle as she walked away... Although it may have been a harsh truth, it was the reality.