Chapter 8.2

Chapter 8.2

As I mentioned last time, the Kizuki family's residence has been artificially turned into a "stray house" by the technique developed as a result of many years of experimentation and research by the researchers. From the outside, the size of the building is roughly equivalent to that of a large noble's residence in the capital, which is vast in itself, but in fact, the interior of the building is half a different world, and its area has been extended several times over.

The building is based on the Shinden-zukuri (寝殿造), and as much as possible, there are several gardens and even a farm inside the residence.

The central bedroom is the place where the head of the family resides, followed by the north pair with the hall to the north. This northern pair is the room of the old hag with a youthful appearance.

From the central bedroom, the east and west pairs extend east and west, respectively. The former is the room for sis (anego-sama), and the latter is the room for a gorilla. From the northern pair, there are two halls extending north, east, and west, and these three halls are the places where other members of the family, including relatives, reside. Although several people live in the same area as the residence where the immediate family members live alone, this point is not of much concern since the residence itself is huge to begin with. Rather, it is only funny to see the four people who occupy the whole building by themselves.

This is the main structure of the building, which is surrounded by a kitchen, a stable, a warehouse, a well, and so on, as well as a building where the servants live. Such is the living quarters of the family. The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.

But then, the Kizuki family, as exorcists and not as private citizens, also manages the facilities in the surrounding area, separated by Tsukiji (a small wooden structure). Those who live in the Kizuki facilities are servants for the purpose of making a living and have no knowledge of exorcism. Across the Tsukiji are the residences of the Ongyo-shu (hidden group), the Yakushi-shu (medicine group), the Noroi-gu-shu (curse-tool master group), the Rikyu-shu (researcher group), the Heiju-shu (healer group), and the Shimonin-shu (servant group), with various laboratories, living facilities, and training centers necessary for their use.

After cleansing myself in the bathhouse on the west side, I went to the servants' building, or more precisely, the detached building of the head of the servants' building, with a fragrance that was not appropriate for a servant. The purpose of this visit was to report on my recent assignment and to apply for the re-supply of the goods I had lost.

"I've already heard about this from Ayaka-sama and the researcher group dispatched. It's a stroke of luck, but considering the fact that this is against a great Youkai, I'd say it's a very big win. As the head of the servants, I'm very proud of you."

The man working in his tatami-floored study stops writing and raises his head. At first glance, his smile appears good-natured, but its depths remain elusive.

Kizuki Shisui, the head servant of the Kizuki family, is in his mid-thirties at the time of the start of the original game. He has short blond hair cut short, and his right eye is indigo, while his left eye is red.

Iris heterochromia... is not an attribute given simply for the visual appearance of the character. Rather, it was proof of his unusual ability.

Those who can use spiritual power to perform magic have "heterotopia," a special, unique, and inborn ability that occurs especially in extremely rare cases.

And the "special ability" that is fully automatic and specialized for a single purpose is called "mystic eye (魔眼)". In the case of Kizuki Shisui's "mystic eye", it is unique in that it has different characteristics for left and right eyes.

The former is similar to hypnosis, but it puts the subject in a state of binding, and the latter is similar to telekinesis in psychic ability and affects the subject mechanically.

This combination is heinous. In the worst case, just by "seeing" the target, he can block his/her movement and even twist off his/her head. Of course, there is a possibility that it can be neutralized depending on the opponent's Youkai power or ability, but in most cases, it can kill the opponent at the first sight.

Moreover, even if his "mystic eye" is neutralized, his spiritual power, techniques using his spiritual power, and stick techniques using his stick are all top-notch. In fact, at the end of the game, neither humans nor Youkai were able to defeat him in a head-on battle, but Youkai was finally able to kill him with a combination of various techniques. It can be said that he is one of the strongest members of the Kizuki family "at present". And... he was once the most promising candidate for the next head of the family.

However, after the blooming of the spiritual power and the manifestation of the "unusual ability" of both Hina, the eldest daughter, and Aoi, the second daughter, he voluntarily gave up his position as a candidate for the head of the family. Although he was still superior to them at the start of the original story, he thought that his two cousins would surpass him in the future. This would lead to the prosperity of the entire Kizuki family.

In fact, the older sister can revive herself even if her neck is twisted, and the younger one can strengthen her body by simple spiritual power, making restraints and neck-twisting powerless, so it can't be helped. Well, even if the "mystic eye" is neutralized, he is still overwhelmed by their bare skill at the beginning of the game.

(Above all... he is a character who can't show his openness.)

In the game, Kizuki Shisui is not cruel or cruel, but he is a man who thinks of his family as a whole with a cold heart and is willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of it. Therefore, depending on the route, he would cooperate with the main character, and on the other hand, there were times when he would thoroughly confront the main character. And when they confronted each other, he was merciless and unscrupulous. Considering my position, I could not say anything careless to him, even if he was not a person to watch out for.

"'Shin/shen'...I heard that youkai was small in the beginning and had just turned into a great Youkai. However, it was wounded... It is possible that it was defeated in a territorial dispute with other Youkai and washed up in that mountain forest."

Shisui opens a scroll that seems to be an inspection report from the researcher group who retrieved and analyzed the carcass and describes its contents as if to confirm them.

I think to that point, and then I realize that the head of the servants is staring at me from the front all the time, and I close my mind and pretend to be unconcerned.

"...Oh, yeah. About supplies. You can tell the curse-tool men about the weapons and the clothes. I've already talked to them."

With that, he pulled something out of his pocket and held it out to me.

It was a Noh mask. Not the small mask I used to wear when I was a low-ranking member, but a Noh mask that represented an old man. It was a mask for the leader of the group.

I bowed deeply and accepted the mask. Just before taking the mask, the giver smiled meaningfully.

"Keep up the good work. I will be on your side as long as you know your place as a servant, swear fealty to the Kizuki family, and devote yourself to your duties with sincerity and devotion."

I felt cold on my neck and broke out in a cold sweat, probably as a warning. If I said the wrong thing, my neck would surely be in a crisis.

"...I understand."

I reply shortly. For a moment, the pressure from the torrent of spiritual power filled the room... and it took about ten seconds for it to subside.

"...Quickly wear the mask. I have a lot of work to do."

The words were spun as the thick pressure of spiritual power completely subsided. I silently and somewhat hastily put the mask on my face, trying hard to stop my hands from shaking. I didn't want to look too much like a dead man with a bloodthirsty face.

"Now, you can retire."

"Yes, sir."

I reply in a completely emotionless tone to the smiling order from the head of the servants and turn on my heel.

(D*mn! I can't stay here forever! I don't know when I'm going to be killed...!)

I am aware of my heart rate spiking. I try to stay calm and hide my emotions like a servant, trying to avoid the nervousness and fear that makes my legs almost fall off.

But in a way, the worst news for me may have been from the report I was about to give early. Because right now, he looked at my back and said, as if remembering.

"Oh, that's right. I'll give you the official notice later, but I'll tell you now. Tomobe-kun, you are to accompany me on my next trip to the capital. I expect you to be ready and willing to do your duty."

"...Yes?"

Kizuki Shisui's merciless and sudden bombshell statement made me forget my acting and give such a stupid reply. After all, his order was too ill-timed.

...Yes. This mission was the worst mission at the worst place at the worst time.

Anyway, this was the time of Kitsuri Shiroki (狐璃白綺), one of the heroines in "Firefly of the Dark Night (Yamiyo no Hotaru)", and one of the most infamous beast characters in the game... Her prequel to the game was about to start in the capital...