Aah!

　Sticking out his fingers rudely, the small child screamed loudly.
　With a start, Hyuki's body trembled.

(I've been found out once and for all!

　If a hiyuki, a princess maiden, were to walk around town in the middle of the Earth Spirit Festival, there would be no way it wouldn't cause a commotion.
　It would cause a big commotion, Hyuki prepared herself for.

I'm a master marksman!

　The words that echoed were unexpected.

'Oh, that little girl--isn't she a little sniper (little shooter)!

What!　You know, the one that got past Nibanya and this steadfast cat!

　It was only when he saw Shtel walking hand in hand with Hyukki that people made a ruckus.　

'That's not all!　They got the goldfish scooping at the third house too!　I heard that the giant goldfish that was the highlight of the show was easily taken!

...

　Stell had a big smile on his face at the spreading bustle.

'Meijin, shoot me!

Master, catch me a goldfish.

Ring toss, master.

　If you stop for a moment, it will surround Shtel with small children and adults alike.

'I have a date today, so I'll see you next time...'

　Shtel says and pulls hard on Hyuki's hand.
　The stance naturally leans forward as it matches Shtel's height. As Shtel slipped through the crowd, Hyuki did her best to chase after her, even though she was being tossed around by the waves of people.

　A small child takes her by the hand.
　The dignity of an older man that he had tried to preserve is nowhere to be found. After all, I was crying and spewing my heart out in front of such a small child.
　When I think about it, my face turns red with shame just by being held back like this.

''Yoo, you're a celebrity, Shtel-chan........''

　As they passed through the hustle and bustle, Hibiki let out a tired breath and said.

'I guess so... ehehe...'

　Shtel had a smile that blossomed into a
　As if to say that being the center of attention is fun.
　Hyuki also gets a lot of attention during Kagura, but she doesn't often think of it as happy or fun. So I don't know how Shtel felt, but I'm glad she seemed to be enjoying herself.

'But really, people don't realize that I'm a hiyuki.

　A hat with bad taste, dubious sunglasses, oddly patterned rings, gray clothing, and pitch-black shoes.
　These five tools, which are said to be the secret tools of the great thief, are said to change the color of your hair and make it less noticeable for some reason when you put them on.
　The color of the hair reflected in the mirror did indeed change, but I was skeptical of its effectiveness.
　However, even if I walked around the city like this now, no one seemed to understand that I was a hijuki.

"Totally!　It's my mom's tools!

　Ever since he met Shtel, Hyuki's common sense has been shattered.
　The same is true when I escaped from the mansion. Hand in hand with Shtel, he fulfilled his descent on the roof or the sky as a foothold. I honestly don't know what that means, but Hyuki has already stopped thinking about it.
　This girl could be anything.

''Hahhhh, but I'm glad.......it didn't make a scene.......''

It's all right!　No, I want to see the octopus meatballs over here!　My mom says it's good, right?

　I didn't have to struggle my way out and then have to go right back in.
　Should I be glad, I wondered? Hyuki had mixed feelings about it.

'Yummy!'

　Huffing and puffing out a breath, I poke at a boat of takoyaki with Shtel.
　Just because it's called a reputation, the outside is crispy and the inside is tender, and the big flavor of the sauce and the deliciousness of the octopus spreads in your mouth.



　When I was an orphan, I used to eat a lot of flour dishes.
　It wasn't this elaborate, but a simpler dish, a simple dish of vegetables and flour baked in water over a wad of water.
　It was something I hadn't tasted since the holly had welcomed me into the world.

'Next time, this way!　Come on, Ashiru, it's a great feeling!

　A small child takes her by the hand.
　Hiruki walked around the city at ease, walking through an unfamiliar city she should have known.

(I feel like I'm doing something wrong...)

　Hyuki is basically a good kid.
　He has never broken anyone's orders when he was growing up in Mizuha, when he was orphaned, or when he became a member of the holly.

(The big festival is the day after tomorrow I really need to focus on that a little bit.)

　But.

　Yeah, but...

Enjoy!

Yeah, it's fun.

　The city of Kusatsu, a city I should have lived in for more than seven years now, but I never paid attention to it. I couldn't afford that when I was an orphan, and when I became a miko, I couldn't afford it because of my training days. After becoming a princess miko, she couldn't afford to travel to the city for personal business.
　Hyuki didn't even know anything about the city she guarded.

''It's a nice city, isn't it?''

'Yes!　Keshiiki is great, baths are comfortable, everyone is kind, there are lots of games, the food is delicious, and Hinoki is beautiful.

　And most importantly, there is someone next to me that I can trust with my heart.
　I can't help but feel comfortable with that.

Yes, it really is.

　With that conditional reflex, Hyuki realized his mistake.

''Jiman?''

Not by a long shot.

　Giggles overlapped.
　They started walking again.






◇






　This is a small pot that makes a rattling sound.
　Tofu is a simple boiled tofu dish made by stewing tofu and seven-colored kelp, which makes an all-purpose broth.
　With that as a side dish, Nahato slowly drank the cup of Izumo's sake.

It's easy to drink. The high aroma and moderate sourness are pleasant.

It's Izumo's famous local brew, to my delight.

　Serious talk with Kensei was already over, and now they were tipping each other's sake cups with merriment.
　Haruka is easily drunk, but Kensei is quite good at drinking.
　He and Nahat are tasting various kinds of alcohol, but they do not seem to be drunk. Nahato poured the sake into a cup and looked at the sword that came into view.

''It's a nice sword, do all the soldiers in this country handle swords?''

　Although it was housed in a scabbard, the glow of the hidden magic power was dimly visible in his eyes.
　It's a unique weapon that must have been created in this world.

This is a magical sword struck by a craftsman five hundred years ago with a layer of magical power. All samurai handle swords, but magical guns, mages, flying dragons and swordsmen, well, that's not the only thing they do, but that doesn't mean they are all swords.

A technique for fighting magical beasts. Is this a good time to mention it?

This is the same branch of the army that is well known throughout the city. There's nothing wrong with that. And...

　Nacht's eyes flickered, prompting him to continue.

'The Land of Harmony is strong. That will not change.'

　Nacht looked happily into the old man's eyes as he looked forward, fearlessly and unflaggingly.

'The world must be in turmoil, and confusion still prevails - we can't remain a hermit forever, and we don't want to be trapped in the affairs of the country, do we?

"Storm outside, fire inside, now that's distressing.

　Nahat turns on the second pot.
　He adds kombu, shiitake mushrooms, garland chrysanthemum, green onions and soy sauce to the tofu to taste.
　Cooked well, Nacht brought the hot tofu to his mouth.

'Well, I'm not of the temperament to be negligent in my military preparations. The place is not going to be exposed to the fires of war any time soon. If we can just ignore it until the end, the war may be over in time.

Yes, that would be nice. I believe that war should be stopped as quickly as possible, even for a minute and a second.

　Nacht shook his head at Kensey's words.

There is no need to deny the struggle. It's a living organism's instinct to fight, while warfare may be an abhorrent business. You cannot reject it so easily and you do not intend to do so.

We have a country to protect.

　Kensey looked somewhere in the distance and slowly tipped his drinking cup.

'Well, one way or another - the Great War is just a trivial matter to me. I wish you could tell me how to get Aisha back in a good mood instead of all that.

　Nacht's true feelings, Kensei smiled widely.

''Ho-ho-ho, from Nacht-dono's point of view, the battle for the world's trend is just a fireworks display worth watching?

'I don't mean to make such a mockery of it, but - because there's nothing in the world more important than Aisha and Shtel right now.

　To Nacht, it was an irrepressible truth and a fact of life.

(I wonder if Shtel would enjoy it now--)

　What happens now?
　It's all up to the family, my dear.

It's just... there are things I don't like about it.

It's a--

　Kensei's words stopped as he was about to continue so.
　Nacht's expression was slightly cloudy.
　That's why there's no way he would dare to continue.

'Well, don't worry about it. Well, don't worry about it, either way, it will be time for you to lay low for a while. If we are involved in a great war, should we prepare to receive the messengers that will come to us in the future?

　What Nacht, who is not up on the continent's affairs, can predict is high.
　Naturally, he can't do much to call it advice.

'It's going to be a long, long time,'

I suppose, but if it's going to last too long...

　Nacht smiled a little. A brutal, horrible, violent smile.
　Just when Nacht was about to gently open his mouth.

Curiosity, kill the cat. I'd rather not hear the end of it.

　What? Kensei said, and Nacht's words turned into a smile.

Don't you think that's a good description?

　He said this as if he was blurting out.　　






◇





　The maiden's room in the Autumn Water Hall.
　The miko looks down at the castle from a small room that symbolizes a far higher place.

''I didn't know anything about it...''

　It was the first time.
　Walking around the city freely was the ultimate luxury for Hyuki and he couldn't help but enjoy it.

　The city of the hot springs, with a faint scent.
　It is a place where everyone is cheerful, where good food and unusual craftsmanship are a delight to the eye.
　There was a child who enjoyed it more than ever, and that's why the hijuki was able to enjoy it without thinking about it.

　It was a temporary illusion.
　It's like a dream, and then it's gone like a dream.

'I see.......we all want to protect this kind of everyday life, don't we?

　A miko is lonely.
　Those lonely days were everyday for Hyuki.
　So the world she saw today was dazzling, enviable, and yet it was also a reality that she could reach out to if she could.

''Ahhhhh.''

　Hyuki spits out her voice, as if she's complaining.
　Somewhere, with a joyful smile on her face.

'Do I have to try my best?'

　At that time when the hijuki is hmmm and stretching.

''--Excuse me.''

　The dignified words echoed.
　There are few things that can enter the princess miko's room.
　The ones that could enter without permission from the hiyuki could be counted on the fingers of one hand.
　The voice was something that would ruin the good mood.

'Huh ... what do you want, Yozora?

　Yozora smiles elegantly at the hiyuki, who doesn't even try to hide her grumpiness.

''Huh?　Do sisters need a reason to see each other, sister?

　Yozora has a carefree smile on her face.
　Yozora, who always looks sullen and throws curses at Hyuki every time they see each other, smiles a good smile when she's up to something.

'So what are you doing here, Yozora?'
　In order to break up the barren conversation as soon as possible, Hyuki urges ahead.

'No, it's not that big of a deal--'

　Yozora grinned and

I think your sister needs to leave.

What--

　Hyuki's consciousness fell into the darkness.