Book 8 Epilogue, (4)

Book 8 Epilogue, (4)

[Part 4/6]

"I considered it to be a responsibility worthy of bearing. Besides... the results were even better than I initially anticipated."

Aoi proudly boasted of the achievements. After escaping from 'Mayoiga,' Tamaki and the servant were both interrogated and claimed to have participated in the subjugation of 'Mayoiga,' with Tamaki as the leader and the servant as her assistant. It was true that they delivered the final blow. However, Tamaki could not be proud of it, nor did she want to be praised for it. Of course, such things didn't matter to Aoi. N0v3lRealm was the platform where this chapter was initially revealed on N0v3l.B1n.

Avoiding any failures that could lead to his questioning and slowly but surely building his reputation to strengthen his position... Aoi saw no value in anything else at this moment. She had no concern for Hotoya's princess's mental state.

"...I see. Your judgment was indeed correct, Aoi."

While the saying goes that all's well that ends well, the result was everything. As long as Aoi's judgment benefited the Onitsuki family, there was no reason to reproach her with hypotheticals, and the servant, who was just a tool receiving orders, had no reason to discuss guilt. Aoi was confident that she had successfully deflected any malice from the man in front of her. No matter how he twisted his logic, it seemed impossible to find fault now. Inside, Aoi sneered at her father with contempt.

"Therefore, I will deliver the verdict. Servant Yun-shoku, from today, your alias will be Tomobe. I hereby promote you from a servant to a household member in recognition of your achievements up to this day. Furthermore, I appoint you as an aide to the head of the main family."

Onitsuki Yuusei delivered the solemn judgment in a monotonous tone, and all the attendees in the council room bowed their heads in acceptance. After a moment of silence, they began to murmur one after another.

"What? What on earth...?"

"Could it be? No way..."

"He's just a servant! What's with this huge fuss!?"

The words flying back and forth showed the confusion of the attendees about the head's decision. It was a bolt from the blue.

"Are you kidding!? Is this allowed!?"

"It's not a joke, Head of the Hidden Group. Check the records. There have been several precedents."

Uemon's shout, which is the loudest of all, is answered in a nonchalant manner by Yuusei. But there are indeed several precedents for being treated as a 'household member servant' or a 'household member in training.' Initially, these individuals were treated as servants, but their spiritual power was reevaluated, or their achievements were recognized, leading them to be treated more like household members... In fact, several of the household members who serve the Onitsuki family followed that path. As a system, it's understandable. However...

"It's unimaginable..."

Miyamizu Shizu murmured almost to herself. Faced with the fact that a mere servant, even if only temporarily, was being treated as an equal, she could only deny it. Moreover, to be designated as the 'aide to the head of the main family'? Was this a bad joke? No, it was even worse... from what she knew of his dark past, it was completely incomprehensible.

And Shizu's reaction was still cute compared to others. Among the gathered household members, some expressed their anger and shame and made impassioned pleas. They couldn't bear to be treated as equals to such lowly beings. They begged for reconsideration.

Against the overflowing opinions like muddy streams, there was only one thing that Yuusei did. He struck his fan and made it resound. With that alone, everyone in the room fell silent. They had no choice but to be silent. It seemed that he possessed something that allowed him to control the situation.

"Quiet down. Such disorderly attitudes are unbecoming."

"However... I'm afraid, my lord. This hasty decision is too..."

Aoi stood up, emanating spiritual power and killing intent to the point that even top-level exorcists would feel intoxicated, and step by step, she advanced. Waiting ahead of her was her own mother. And obstructing her path was her detested half-sister. Aoi's emotions were completely boiling over. She wanted to kill them. She wanted to keep killing them endlessly. And she readied her fan...

"Please, princess, stop."

"...!?"

At the whisper of the servant who had been kneeling in the center of the council room, bowing his head all along, Aoi froze. She turned her gaze to him, toward the one person she loved the most in this world.

"I understand your anger, but please refrain from such rudeness. It is not for your own good that the princess of Onitsuki should be exposed in such a manner here."

The counsel was delivered without a hint of emotion. Without facing her, the voice trembled not, and it was spoken in a calm manner. This fact further disturbed the balance of Aoi's emotions, which had just regained some semblance of control.

"You dare speak down to me like that...!? Who do you think I am? Are you so shameless as to forget the debt of gratitude you owe me? Are you asking me to bear humiliation?"

"It is precisely because I feel a great debt of gratitude that I dare to offer this counsel."

In response to Aoi's trembling voice and the judgment of many others trembling with anger, the servant still replied with a calm tone. In the overwhelmingly tense atmosphere of the situation, some were intimidated, but a few were even impressed by the servant's boldness. At the same time, they thought that the servant could be killed the next moment.

Of course, those who appreciated the servant were probably unaware of Aoi's internal turmoil.

"Why...?"

It was a very small murmur, but it most succinctly expressed Aoi's emotions. She couldn't understand his words acknowledging the current situation, the meaning behind his impassive and cold voice, or the fact that he was looking at her with such eyes.

Even though he might end up in a hell where he could be killed at any moment, she was the only one who could guarantee his safety. Even though it was tantamount to suicide to let him go from her hands, let alone placing him by that man's side. No, even worse than that. Aoi knew just how wicked and despicable the abilities possessed by her father, that man, were. He himself must be suffering because of it...!?

"Could it be...?"

Abruptly, Aoi's gaze shifted to the seat at the head of the room. She fixed her eyes on the man seated there. Acting on pure impulse, she rushed forward. She ran without any consideration, knocking down several clan members who tried to block her with a single sweep of her arm. She slammed them against the wall. The council room became noisy. Kochou might be shouting something, but Aoi's mind no longer registered such things.

"I won't forgive you..."

It was a whisper so small that only she could hear it, but the hatred contained within it was immeasurable.

Her thoughts were entirely focused on one thing. To swiftly remove the root cause controlling him. To save him. That was all. Holding her fan, trampling on the mats as she moved, and going for his head...

"Princess, please stop."

"!!?"

Facing him standing in her path, Aoi instinctively flinched. She twisted her face, and the fan that was about to strike halted in midair. It was too fatal of an opening.