[Part 3/4]
Well, it wouldn't be impossible with the power of psycho father. If they thoroughly brainwash her in the usual way, it would probably be possible. Then I could accept it. Hisa is just a victim. But...
"Princess."
"She's not lying. At least from my perspective."
When I asked the Princess, who was beside and had put on a simple single-layered kimono, her alluring appearance, she gave a calm answer. She guaranteed that she didn't lie with her observation skills.
(Of course, it would require a disclair that it's within her own understanding...)
Even without telling lies, soone could withhold the truth, or choose her words to downplay or exaggerate. I an, people could even manipulate mories. But Aoi's observation skills were a skill. However, she couldn't see through that. The laborers who frad her probably used that as a loophole. They might have been surprisingly clever.
Well, that's beside the point...
"I'll confirm. mory manipulation. Is it possible on a large scale as far as the Princess knows?"
"...If it's temporary, it's possible. However, the more changes there are, the more discomfort it causes and the more ntally unstable one becos."
Aoi explained her knowledge of mory manipulation that she obtained from books.
"Basically, mory alteration through mind control doesn't rewrite mories but rather covers them up. It's more like overlaying paper than painting over it. The real mories remain underneath the fabricated ones forever. There's even a theory that they beco stronger subconsciously."
"I see. What happens when it becos unstable?"
"The ntal burden becos heavier when there's a contradiction and dissociation with reality. Especially when you beco aware of it. You can gradually beco depressed, insane, or even aggressive..."
"Don't treat like I'm crazy!!"
Hisa, who recognized that Aoi was talking about herself from her glance, retorted aggressively. Aoi was so overwheld by Hisa's force that she almost fell back with her immobile body, and I hurriedly supported her.
"Are you okay, Princess?"
"Yes. I was just surprised...it's like a wild beast."
The opponent's words were so arrogant because she couldn't move. I was inwardly exasperated as I faced her again. Hisa continued speaking imdiately afterwards.
"Don't treat this mory as a fake!! I'm aware of the authenticity of my mories!! Much more than you guys...!"
"Is it because of training?"
When I asked the question, Hisa gave a disdainful look as if I were an idiot.
"Yes, the feeling when mories are restored is really unpleasant. It's a feeling of becoming vague... Princess knows that, right? mory alteration gradually collapses when you beco aware of it."
"Yes... I know."
"My mories haven't collapsed. I can recognize the boundary between the implanted mories and the real mories in an orderly manner. It's not just endurance, you can see that, right?"
"..."
Aoi remained silent in response to the provocative question. She neither denied nor affird it. She just observed my reaction.
"But you have a sharp tongue, junior. Are you pretending to be a cat?"
"...What do you an?"
"I heard that mory alteration doesn't cause a major change in personality. If the clumsy and cute version of you was an illusion, that would be a sha, right?"
"Clumsy...?"
The girl who had been directing her hostility towards was suddenly speechless, as if she had been caught off guard. Haha, just as I expected?
"Well, I understand now. I have to fight reality, don't I?"
And so, after teasing my junior, I held my head, relaxed my face, cracked my shoulders, and accepted everything.
"Tomobe..."
"It's okay, Princess. There's no problem. Nothing has changed. If anything, the responsibility has beco even greater."
Haha, I chuckled bitterly. It really had beco a heavy responsibility. It was already heavy enough for one person, but now the responsibility of two people was added on top of that.
"What? Don't look at like that."
"Don't say that. I don't intend to beco your enemy. ...I promised, didn't I?"
"..."
"It's for Shikae too. She asked to look after you if anything happened."
"Don't ntion that na now...!!"
The voice directed at was filled with an intense edge. Anger and hatred were directed at . I accepted it without resistance. It was my duty.
"Sister! She was with you, but she died! She was talented! She had more spiritual power than , and she was skilled with techniques and archery...!!"
She must be rembering her sister. She stared at the ground, grinding her teeth while overwheld by sorrow and frustration.
"Why are you the only one alive? My sister died, and you, the servant? It's ridiculous, all the patrols have been wiped out, but you're the only one alive!!"
With a suspicious gaze, Hisa looked at with suspicion... it was a reasonable question, and I might have been suspected by other servants as well. The only difference was that she had a real family, not just a sense of duty...
"That guy, Shikae helped a lot. She kept helping until the end. Maybe she would have survived if I wasn't there."
"You're selfish, aren't you?"
"I guess I am. We'll have to talk about that soon. But think about it. Is your respected sister really the kind of person who couldn't even defend herself against a lower-level surveillance target?"
"You talk like you know everything..."
"I do. I know what kind of person that guy, Shikae, is. I know she has a strong spirit. I know she tried her best even in hopeless situations. I know she summoned the courage to protect her friends. And I know... she loved her family until the very end."
Yeah, and I know what she liked...
"...Want so dried persimmons?"
"..."
Hisa reacted slightly to my suggestion, but imdiately fell silent and glared at . I chuckled and added, "Just say the word if you want so."
"Now then, we're getting off track. There's sothing else I need to ask you about."
Unfortunately, Hisa's origin and our connection had strayed from the main topic. In fact, there were many more important topics to discuss. The details of the conspiracy, the presence of other assassins... I didn't even know how much the people on site knew.
"How many other people are hiding here? What are their nas? ...Well, I guess you won't talk."
I asked several tis, but there was no response, not even a glance. Maybe closing her eyes was a sign of determination. I didn't intend to torture her, though.
"Would breaking a finger be enough?"
"Princess, you say scary things... but that doesn't an she'll tell us the truth."
I was honestly disgusted by Aoi's casual ntion of sothing painful. It was one thing to think about it, but it was another thing to actually say it.
"At any rate, we'll have to wait for a while. Fortunately, we were able to get so equipnt. We caught so of their n. The situation is better than it was this morning."
"If you're not counting injuries, I guess."
Aoi showed the back of her hand, which was covered in congealed blood, and made a sarcastic comnt. The trick of switching the decoy and the real target for the purpose of capturing Hisa. For the fake body, Aoi had stuck a needle into her palm and injured herself. She had assud that her skin color and size could be easily disguised from a distance, and she was right.
...Of course, she had avoided blood vessels and bones and stopped the bleeding, but piercing her palm must have been excruciating. It was understandable that she would complain. I fervently hoped that I wouldn't be killed the mont her power was resurrected.
"I'm sorry. Please forgive for that."
"I don't want your apologies. Show your sincerity through your actions."
"Okay."
Apologizing for a long ti and trying to cover up, only to be cut off in an instant. Maybe the repaynt is compounded, and I don't want to go back to the mansion.
"Ahem. Well, let's regain our composure... Oh, Princess. Could I leave for a mont?"
Before doing so, I asked Aoi for permission.
"Oh, why? Are you going to use yourself as bait again? I wonder what you'll catch next?"
The sarcastic remark seed to an that I was planning to use myself as bait twice. There was a good chance that so lackeys were still surveilling this place. However...
"At least for now, there shouldn't be a problem. It's night now."
If they were going to attack, they would have already. It would be too late if Aoi's poison wore off. If there were no surveillance, there would only be youkai lurking around. Even if the attacking group ca later, they would not be able to get through the deep forest at night. They should have noticed the roar of the youkai lurking in the deep forest if they had to get through the literal demon's den.
"That's right, Hisa?"
"..."
As usual, there was no response, but I didn't miss the slight movent of the gaze. I looked at Aoi. She nodded quietly. As I thought, there is no one nearby who is confident in rough work. There is no ti to relax except now.
"Well, there's nothing we can do. So, why do you want to move? To hide and eat? Or are you going to 'play with your skin'?"
"I'm just going to 'pick so flowers'... I'll be back soon."
Ignoring Aoi's teasing, I moved away from the space illuminated by the bonfire. The light faded away. I was enveloped in darkness.
"Well, I'll be back soon..."
I didn't say, "When I finish organizing these indescribable emotions." It was too pathetic to show it to soone younger than when I couldn't hold back my tears...
* * *
"Hmph. Don't you think it's unfair not to count your own injuries?"
"..."
Watching the servant who was going to pick flowers disappear into the darkness, Aoi muttered. She stroked her injured palm and asked, but the servant did not reply. However, Aoi smiled sadistically at his attitude.
"Anyway, you're so stubborn. Do you know your position? You're just a fish on a chopping board."
She forcibly stretched her numb legs. Her slender white legs like whitefish were visible from under her skirt. Aoi pressed her toes against the captive's cheek and playfully poked them.
"Hmmp!? Nyu!? ...Hmm. Do whatever you want, whether you boil or fry. Your fate won't change anyway."
"The howl of a defeated dog is unsightly. Well, for , it's comfortable to forget the misery."
Simultaneously with pressing Hisa's cheek with her toes, Aoi gave a sharp retort, demonstrating the intelligence and bad personality of the second princess. Hisa looked at the princess with a bitter gaze. And for Aoi, that gaze was rather delightful.
"Anyway... Sister, huh? I don't understand why you're standing at the forefront of this crazy sche just for that kind of thing."
For Aoi, who saw her sister as an enemy in every sense of the word, the girl's previous remarks were honestly difficult to understand. It seed foolish to risk one's life for revenge, even if it ant risking one's own life.
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