[Part 4/4]
Shiro's expression is hard to read in response to my grumbling complaint. Perhaps she can't openly agree from her position.
(Gorilla... what is Aoi thinking?)
I think back to the figure of the drenched woman clinging to my feet. It's obvious that I don't approve of this situation... or maybe not, considering the original story?
(Is my perception off? Do we have different values?)
I thought she had llowed out compared to the original story, but seeing her like this, maybe it's just a difference in perspective. Am I only seeing the surface? Or is this just a natural reaction from soone who is much more imrsed in the norms of this world than I am... No, that's not it. People's hearts are not sothing I can understand. I need to ask her directly to get anywhere.
"May I touch you a little?"
"Eh? Huh!? Eek!? Ahh!?"
I dismounted from the black horse and touched Shiro's body, who was confused. To be precise, I touched her tail, her white uniform, and her wrist near her neck. The white fox trembled.
"You are sealed, aren't you? There's no leakage... is there?"
There were countless seals on her collar, bracelets, and under her white uniform, and a chain around the base of her tail. These were things that hindered the youkai energy of a half-youkai and prevented them from using youkai techniques.
With a few exceptions, half-youkais need similar asures to enter the city, and even more stringent asures are required to enter the Inner Palace. I am rechecking these things to be wary of any kind of conspiracy by the couple. It would be troubleso if a defective product was mixed in and restrained during the check.
"Eek, nn... nn!? Ugh!"
"Are you ticklish? Bear with it. Okay, this should be good."
I coaxed Shiro, who had a voice that was both playful and alluring, and I checked and rechecked her thoroughly before releasing her. The half-youkai fox girl glared at with slightly tearful eyes.
"Tomobe-san...!"
"Sorry. But... I regret getting you involved in this ss."
"Geez... that's a cheap way to put it!"
Shiro complained in response to my reply. This girl is really starting to talk back.
"I'll buy you sothing later, so forgive ?"
"You don't even know how much trouble I went through...!"
"...I can imagine."
I couldn't help but look away as I responded. I could sense the burden that had fallen on her to handle the conversation with Aoi of my absence. I understood, but still...
"I'm doing fine right now. So, what about you?"
"Hmm..."
I patted the fox girl's head as she pouted, trying to smooth things over.
"...I'll buy you lots of sweets, okay? I need so anyway."
"? Oh, alright."
I accepted her words, though I felt a sense of unease. Solving problems with money and things was easy.
"Alright. Let's try again and head out."
I mounted my horse and rode towards the gate, trying to make a fresh start.
...As I passed by, I thought I heard a guard mutter, "An attraction to young girls and animal, huh? That's pretty advanced." I couldn't understand...
* * *
The Onmyouji Bureau is located outside the central area of the Imperial Palace.
"This way."
The official who guided to the Onmyouji Bureau headquarters didn't seem to have any spiritual power. Not all mbers of the Onmyouji Bureau are exorcists. Since it's also a governnt office, a considerable number of officials sent by the Imperial Court are assigned there for administrative purposes and surveillance. In fact, they handle most of the paperwork.
...It slls like a conspiracy, but I shouldn't worry about it.
"The head of the dormitory will et with you directly. ...Your companion may also enter."
"Yes. ...Yes?"
I accepted the official's indifferent words, but I looked at him twice in confusion. I looked at Shiro, then at the official, and repeated this a couple of tis.
"That is..."
"He is already waiting for you in his office. Please enter."
The official's words left no room for argunt or hesitation. It gave a bad feeling sohow.
"...Shiro. Let's go."
"...Yes."
A mont of silence. With a hesitation, and determination, the ti it took for to urge and Shiro to respond was almost the sa. ...Since I brought her, I'll have to take responsibility if anything happens.
"Excuse ."
I opened the door and entered. I recognized the figure at the front desk of the spacious office and knelt down to introduce myself.
"Northern region exorcists Onitsuki family Household mber Coordinator servant, pseudonym Tomobe. Requested to attend, I have arrived here with one attendant as a representative of the main house."
I recited my position and bowed my head, waiting for a response. Only the sound of a brush writing echoed in the room... Finally, the answer ca.
"Very well. Raise your head."
In response, I raised my head, and Shiro also raised his head from the sound behind . I saw the figure ahead of .
A black-based yin-yang outfit, a veil hiding his mouth. Sharp eyes. A young voice... I knew him. I knew him even though we had never t before.
The current Omnyouji Bureau head, Kirisou Gensei... This sub-character, who also appears in the original work "Firefly of the Dark Night (Yamiyo no Hotaru)," is, in a word, a character who dies early in the story.
It's not that he's weak. However, it's because he's always killed off in a very easy way, either because his opponent is bad or because he's defeated by a cheap ta tactic. For a long ti, he was treated as the "Bureau Head Who Dies Early" in the community, often paired with Murasaki or the naless Onitsuki exorcists (probably Onitsuki Touya). However, he was given a lot of attention in the Darth Tamaki route. Wasn't there a story that he was one step away from ruining the Youkai Salvation Organization's plan?
"...Is there sothing wrong? Is there sothing on my face?"
"...No, I am truly overwheld to be able to have an audience with the Omnyouji Bureau head."
I pretended to be calm and made excuses, noticing the gaze from over my mask. As expected, he's sharp.
"You don't need to flatter , Onitsuki representative. I understand that you're wary. It's only natural to be wary. Otherwise, you would have objected to the Household mber Coordinator."
The Omnyouji Bureau head finished writing sothing on the docunt in front of him and put down his brush. He stopped his work and looked at .
"Being summoned by na. And the assistant is a half-youkai. A fox youkai at that. It's only natural to feel like this is contrived. ...Hmm. It seems unlikely that I'll be easily frad this way."
"B-Bureau Head..?"
I was shaken by his overly blunt words. Shiro, who was behind , was probably feeling the sa way.
"Don't worry about it. This room is warded, so it's soundproof. We also thoroughly checked for the possibility of eavesdropping beforehand. ...I've removed the surrounding formulas, but you shouldn't complain, right? I wouldn't allow hidden formulas in my office."
"Bureau Head? What are you talking about...?"
What kind of conversation is this? What is this conversation for?
"Gensei, explain things in a more step-by-step manner. He must be confused, right? Don't make him unnecessarily anxious."
I turned around at the sound of the naturally raspy voice, and naturally, that woman was there. I knew the na of the person who was patting Shiro's head, who looked startled.
"That being said, I'm surprised you haven't co to greet yet after all this ti. Have you grown arrogant with your newfound power? Fellow Onitsuki?"
The old-looking Tanuki woman declared, fixing her eyes on .
Azuma Hibari, the forr head of the Omnyouji Bureau, was gleefully accusing ....
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