[Part 3/4]
"...It's raw meat, right? I think it'll spoil quickly?"
"Yes! That's why I thought I'd serve this for dinner and cook it myself! Haha, don't worry!"
The head of the family responds with a lot of goodwill to my somewhat hesitant question. Tamaki, unfortunately, seems to have no way out. It would be incredibly rude to escape from a homemade meal prepared by the head of the family.
...By the way, the deep-fried sparrow seasoned with rock salt was actually pretty good. Yes.
* * *
"Sigh... I'm tired."
After finishing a reception, a drinking party, and dinner with the head of the Juuyaku family, the town magistrate, and even the innkeeper, I stood outside, letting the night breeze hit me. Tamaki is probably resting her tired body in her room right now.
If I were still just a servant, I would have been eating with just my family, drinking cheap alcohol, playing hanafuda or sugoroku, and before I knew it, I would have fallen asleep. ...Well, I guess we're taking turns on guard duty, right? In any case, I feel mentally relaxed.
"To gain something, you have to give something up, huh? Whether you go up or stay down, work is tough."
I shrug my shoulders and sigh at the impermanence of the world. Then, I gather my thoughts and look down at the town.
...The tow was lively even in the middle of the night. Maybe it was because it was near the district border in the center region. The gates were closed, but inside the fences, nearly a hundred inns, row houses, and stalls were lit up by bonfires and lanterns, and people were still bustling about.
"Such a luxury."
In the capital, Shiro'oku, or even in the town, it costs a lot to fill the night with light using so much oil and firewood. Besides, there was also the chance that the light could attract youkai. This was a luxury that was unimaginable back in my hometown. It was common to sleep at sunset and wake up at sunrise, so even though I was used to the scene before me now, it still felt extravagant and wasteful.
Maybe it was because I felt alienated in the bright, lively atmosphere...
"..."
Trying to escape the light, I headed to the back of the inn.
It was much darker and quieter back there, probably because it was in the shadows. There were no signs of people. It seemed like the workers and maids had finished their jobs and left. I stepped into the area where the storehouse, garden, and chicken coop were located.
"Where are you, where are you... alright, alright. It's you, isn't it?"
In one corner of the stable filled with chestnut horses, I spotted a particularly large blue horse that had pushed the others aside to claim its space. I approached it carefully to avoid getting kicked. This was the special horse I received from the young lady Tachibana. My partner.
"You're not being a good boy, are you? Still the same little troublemaker, huh?"
'Brrrrrrrr!!'
Inside, I was feeling uneasy. I was used to being looked down upon, but being praised so much by someone senior was rare, and I didn't know how to react. To make matters worse, this was right before I was about to take my medicine, so I was a bit flustered trying to cover up the situation. My head was in a mess.
"Hmm. ...Then, Household Member Coordinator-dono. Let me apologize first, shall I?"
"Apologize? For what?"
"For this."
...So, I was slow to react to the next action.
"...Huh? What!?"
Right after, I was knocked back by a direct hit to my face. To be precise, I took a step back the moment I recognized the impact. It was just a momentary relief. My face felt like it had exploded.
"W-What!?"
"Ha!"
"Ugh!?"
A hand chop was swung without giving me a chance to respond. I quickly swiped from the side to deflect it. It was heavy! Was it enhanced with spiritual power...!?
"Ha! Ha! Hyaah!!"
"Head of the family!? W-What the...!?"
Juuyaku Ichishen ignored my attempts to talk to him and suddenly swung his fist with incredible speed. The air was filled with the sound of slicing as he launched a series of rapid punches. He threw a chop, then a backhand strike. Elbow jabs, palm hits, and upward swipes followed in quick succession. Ichishen's diverse techniques, honed for practical fighting, demonstrated his exceptional martial arts skills, typical of the Juuyaku family.
"Ugh, oof...!?"
I respond after strengthening my spiritual power, but I'm pushed into a defensive position. I never expected to be in a fight like this. My senses are slipping away, so I barely manage to react at the last moment, but it feels like walking a tightrope. I'm being pushed back, pushed back, and pushed back...
"Your feet are wide open!"
"Don't underestimate me!"
I predict that the head of the family is focusing on my upper body, so I counter with a kick. I slip past a sweep and go for a roundhouse kick. Oh, I got caught.
"Take that!"
"Whoa!?"