[Part 4/4]
"Are you thinking that I am going to pursue this further? I'm not that childish. Please rember that I haven't forgotten what happened."
Murasaki's reluctant response, wrapped in her spare clothes. It was a loan, after all. That's what you'd expect from the Ako family. The conversation was going smoothly.
"Thank you very much...!"
Still bowed, I bowed even deeper. A sincere and heartfelt apology. Ako Murasaki wasn't the kind of person to take it lightly, and if I had to say it harshly, I was half acting by pointing out her naivety.
...No, I really do feel sorry, though?
"You don't need to bow your head that low. You're not just a servant anymore. If you keep bowing that low, you'll end up hurting the honor of the main house. You'll also be looked down upon."
"Ah."
Murasaki's attitude, which seed to accept that there was no other way. Phew. She's so naive... Ugh. The maid on the side was looking at with a dissatisfied expression. I need to be careful.
"...Can I ask sothing?"
Murasaki, who seed oblivious to the maid's attitude, suddenly asked a question.
"Ah, what is it about?"
"That... What's with that mask?"
It was a question about the childish, scribbled-on mask I was wearing.
"...It's for babysitting."
"For babysitting? What?"
"Yes, literally."
"It's a transparent, teacher-like mask!"
"Cut it out!"
I glared at Akane's sudden interruption, which was more focused on the content than the tone. Was she trying to copy ? Did she have evidence even though there was no picture?
...the mask of a servant, no matter what rank, is honestly unsettling to these kids. It's as if they're intentionally making themselves seem inorganic and eerie, giving off an intimidating aura. It's only natural that they wouldn't be suitable for childcare. As the number of kids increased, so would feel even more repulsed. The younger kids are all inexperienced in the fox incident too.
So, I had prepare a cheap mask, and the kids scribbled on it. It's a stupid, foolish-looking face, like a laughing Buddha. It's better than the servant's face, at least. I'd fallen as far as I could go, and now all I can do is climb back up.
"I, I see..."
"I like it! That way is better!"
"I didn't ask about your preferences, you kid!"
The purple-haired girl's response was impossible to understand, like a carefree, whimsical remark. It was too laid-back, and I cut her off.
"...Anyway, why is the young lady of Ako here? It would've been better if you'd contacted us beforehand."
Talking to those kids is a real pain. Let's just get on with the conversation. Not having an appointnt is pretty inconvenient, but... it's for her sake, after all.
"So, that's..."
Murasaki hesitated, looking at the maid beside her. The maid coughed and took over.
"The young lady is still shaken. May I explain instead?"
"Yeah."
The maid, Yona, explained that she had co to offer congratulations as a relative of Onitsuki, but had been worried about being hindered and had co without warning. Moreover, she hadn't sent a letter beforehand because she didn't want to be known to be visiting a half-youkai orphanage like this... The way she spoke was sharp, like a spear, and criticized her harshly.
"Even so, there is a lack of control. If this is the case, the kids will never know what's going on. You've received an unusual mission from the Omnyouji Bureau, one that's hard to understand. As the young lady of Ako, related to Onitsuki by blood, she expects you to do this job properly, without any mistakes."
The maid vented her pent-up frustrations, as if she had finished her duties. Then, with a confident smile, she looked at her master. "How is it?"
...It looked like a mismatch between supply and demand, but...
"Wh-what? Eeeeee?!"
Murasaki's face turned pale after hearing the words. "Isn't that too much responsibility?!?" she exclaid. Her eyes darted around the room, looking at everyone present.
"Young lady..."
"Young lady?"
"Y-young lady?"
From above, I, the maid, and the kids were looking down. Murasaki gazed at us, her eyes fixed on us, and then noticed the little kids peeking from behind the shouji paper door. Ugh, I didn't want to point it out, but... (I kept quiet, thinking it would be rude to ntion it. Mistake.)
"Eeeeee, eeeeee, eeeeee, and and and and...!!? Don't you think this snack is enough for you lizard people?!?"
"Whoa!!?"
Murasaki shoved the sweets box at with a loud voice, as if throwing it. She stood up.
"Y-young lady?"
"What's with you?! Stop calling with that childish tone, you pervert!!?"
Murasaki glared at , her eyes spinning wildly. She was completely flustered.
"Young lady, what's...?"
"Yona, I've achieved my goal!! I'll be leaving soon!!?"
The maid, who was equally shocked as I was, still followed Murasaki's orders.
"Young lady Murasaki, please wait..."
"How annoying! I'm very busy!! You should be grateful I even ca here... Ugh!"
This was right after Murasaki opened the shouji paper door, scattered the kids, and stepped out into the corridor. She slipped and fell, her head hitting the floor in a straight line.
As I had expected, I imdiately supported her.
"Kyaa?"
"Are you okay, Young lady?"
"Hu? ...Huu!!?"
I held her up, asking if she was alright. Her response was vague, and our faces were so close that I could see the colors of our skin. I was stunned, unsure of what had happened... and then, as I understood, Murasaki took a step back.
"I apologize!! Let's start over!! I'll co back another day, so please respond properly then!! You can do that, can't you?!"
That declaration was like pointing at and shouting in anger, with a command that made my face turn bright red from sha.
"...O-okay."
"Yes, you replied! I promised, didn’t I?! Yona, let’s go ho now!! Hurry up!!"
"Young lady!? Please wait!!?"
Murasaki, and Yona, quickly escaped to the side, and the maid chased after her like a storm. I was left standing there, unable to keep up with the situation.
...Huh? Is she coming back?
"Ah, this is delicious!"
And then, without permission, the lizard-like girl started eating the sweets and said sothing. No, she just took them without asking.
"Hey, share them with everyone!"
I quickly confiscated the sweets. Then, I chased after Murasaki. I didn’t understand what was going on, but I had to see her off. Ignoring the little girl who was crying, I ran towards the orphanage gate. The ox-cart was already gone. It was a close call, a real ergency.
"Or should I say, did they drive the cart away too fast and almost get into an accident?"
I was talking about Ako Murasaki. At the last mont, I barely managed to see her off, but I didn’t know what would happen if I didn’t.
And then, I collided with a person who was hiding behind the gate.
"Whoa!?"
A refreshing, elegant figure suddenly appeared in front of , filling my nostrils with a sweet fragrance. I was confused by the situation.
"E-excuse ?"
I hurriedly apologized and tried to create so distance. But that didn’t happen.
"Oh, this is quite bold, isn’t it? This kind of exposed welco is a first, isn’t it?"
"Huh?"
It was a sarcastic remark. At the sa ti, my head was gently pushed back, and my vision was filled with a soft, sweet sensation. I ended up in a silly, awkward pose. The sweet, llow voice whispered in my ear.
"Earlier, I almost got into an accident with Ako's young lady. Oh your face was bright red... Maybe you're the type who gets impatient when it cos to girls?"
While my face was buried, I looked up at the other person with a sidelong glance. A captivating gaze and a mischievous face stared back at .
"Y-you...!"
Before I could say anything, a jet-black, extrely thick, and high-quality sweets box appeared on top of my head, as if it was placed there.
"Sweets box... A celebratory gift from Princess Miyataka. Please, don’t hesitate to accept it."
Wrapped in a white core and coated with cherry blossom pink, then further enveloped in a dark, soybean-flavored exterior, the dorayaki... It was an encounter with a magical dangerous character, brought about by offering the famous confectionery of the capital.
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