[Part 4/4]
I take out my spear from the horse's load and equip other curse-tools, getting fully ready while checking in with them. The two agree to a temporary retreat before sunset. We don't have enough people. Plus, human stamina and focus are limited. Without support from servants or the Hidden Group, this is a wise decision. The exorcists from their family may be aggressive, but they're not foolish. Both are in work mode. Professionals are reliable.
"I'll go ahead. ...I'm off?"
"...You might want to lower your expectations."
With the confident words of the one leading the way, I instinctively think that way.
...Not very exciting.
* * *
"I wonder if they're doing well..."
In the sunny center of the city, inside the Inner Palace, there was the Principal Tax Office of the Ministry of Civil Administration.
In the storage area, there were bureaucrats bustling around, with nervous clerks and accountants moving back and forth through the hallways and gardens. The young man watched them while worrying about his sister (Suzune), who was off on a journey. He kept waiting for his lord to return.
Since his real na ca from a lowly background, he couldn't reveal it. The na given to him by his respected lord was "Kei," which ca from when he pointed out that his lord was almost tricked in a math problem.
The young man thought that since his lord personally nad him, that incident must have been very important. If things had gone wrong, it could have led to huge debts and losing his position. His lord, a lower noble from a branch family, must have been very scared. He also wondered if giving him this na was a reminder to keep him in check.
...If it scared him that much, he wished he would do a bit more math. He hoped his lord would stop asking him to investigate or calculate things right away whenever sothing ca up. Wasn't the responsibility a bit too heavy for the pay?
"I appreciate the support, but..."
As he let out a deep sigh, a mix of sadness and gratitude swirled within him. Still, he reminded himself that he was lucky. He convinced himself he wasn't foolish. He knew he was more fortunate than many others and understood how much that blessing ant.
Thanks to his lord's support, he gained a position as a bureaucrat. Being an assistant to the district chief was a significant role. It was natural that his pay was much higher than before, but it was even more important that his family felt the benefits.
In the social system of Fusō, having his family serve alongside the district magistrate helped protect his parents and brother, who had beco independent farrs, from jealousy from others. With his position, he could keep an eye on things, and his brother, who had taken over the family, had found a good match, so they were quite secure in that regard. There was no need to worry about being looked down upon. Now, if only his sister could find a good match too, everything would be perfect.
"And also, there's..."
And now, he had one wish. It was fragile, but he definitely wanted more success than he had already achieved... If he didn't beco greater, if he didn't gain power, he wouldn't be able to find out where he stood.
"Brother..."
The words he whispered seed to fade away, filled with resignation, and he understood the worst truth himself. Just finding his bone or his grave would feel enough. A family mber he could never et again. Important family... parents, brother, sister, if he wasn't in a position to investigate, there wouldn't be ti. It couldn't be helped; he was the only one who could pursue this, and he still lacked strength... This was also why he wanted to marry a good girl from a nice family. For that, he wouldn't mind if she was ugly. If he could achieve his goal, he could lift her up and love her.
...Therefore, the young child of his lord, who had been crying and throwing a tantrum after the recent commotion, could not be the one to share his life.
"...Ugh. It hurts."
As he rembered that commotion that made him a laughingstock in the neighborhood, he groaned while rubbing his jaw, which had taken a hit from a barbarian claiming to be his sister's friend. There were no cracks, but it still hurt a bit. Clearly, that wasn't the strength of a girl. I an, was it sane to suddenly get hit by an Ezo half-youkai? Is his sister choosing his friends properly? Big brother is worried...
"...! They're here."
As he frowned and rubbed his jaw for a while, he sensed their presence from the sound of footsteps and laughter. He straightened up and stood respectfully.
"Hahaha. Then, let's tell the Ministry of Ceremonies like this... Oh, sorry, sorry. I'll leave it to you!"
"No, that's not necessary."
An older man with a thick black beard mixed with white, who left the Bureau of Taxation with senior bureaucrat from the Ministry of Civil Administration, left a strong impression. He was the head of a branch family of the Ise family, holding a chief magistrate position in the northern region's district. The young man offered a polite bow and flattery.
It was unusual for a district chief magistrate to visit the Ministry of Civil Administration, and there was no reason for it. This was only possible because of the country's decaying and increasingly formalized system.
No matter how lowly, a noble is still a noble. And the struggles of lower nobles have been around for a long ti. It's a tradition to bring small gifts and ask for favors from those in power. Half of the district chief magistrates are from old noble families, while the other half are officials or lower nobles looking for jobs. It's a known fact that a lord nearing the end of their term cos here, relying on family ties to ask for an extension or a new position. From their attitude, it seems like things went well.
(For now, it looks like I won't lose my job.)
From the neatly kept records of bribes for district chief magistrates, he thought the gifts prepared were enough. He ans, why are those records so tidy when others are ssy? Is it for the sake of future generations? Oh well. He just hopes the Danjo-dai (Imperial Prosecuting and Investigating Office) does its job.
"...? Who are you?"
While feeling frustrated with society, the young man turned his attention to the bureaucrat who appeared after his lord. Dressed in formal attire, this person held a rank. Could it be...?
"Oh. This is the head of the Bureau of Taxation. ...They are assisting in a minor role, Kei."
"I didn't know it was the Bureau Head, please forgive my rudeness...!"
The lord's explanation and the young man's deep bow happened almost at the sa ti. It was important not to be disrespectful to the person in front of him. At least, not to himself.
If it were a noble and a district chief magistrate, that would be one thing. But he was just a minor official who was being favored. Bowing too high to soone of the Bureau of Taxation, who held a rank of 5 or 6, was too much. He knew what would happen if he offended them. He couldn't fully trust his lord either. He understood that he could easily be discarded if it ca down to his position. So, he continued to act humble and begged for rcy. He didn't see that as shaful.
"Oh, you don't need to do that..."
"Ise-dono. Let handle this. ...Please raise your head. There's no need to fear, there are no punishnts here."
"Y-yes, but...!"
Bureau Head hesitated a bit and lowered his head. It wasn't good to raise his head right after being called.
"It's hard to talk like that. This is an order. Raise your head."
"Y-yes! Then...!"
The son of the tenant farr finally raised his head, acting small. He quickly sensed that he was being seen through.
"...He's a good assistant, isn't he?"
"Haha, yes! He's my proud subordinate!"
When the head of Ise branch family praised him, the lord of the young man beca very happy. He was bold but easy to flatter, making him a bit careless. After a forced smile, Bureau Head looked at the young man.
"Honestly, I don't co from a high background either. In that sense, I'm not good at being too humble, so I feel a connection with young people like you. ...I've also been supported to reach my current position, you know?"
"Y-yes..."
The young man could only respond with confusion to Bureau Head's words. Did the lord say sothing? It wasn't pleasant to feel like he was being known without knowing the other person.
"Actually, Bureau Head also assists the Minister of the Left. In that sense, you might be in a similar position, Kei."
"I just occasionally take on the assistant role. ...Anyway, don't worry about the connections. I'll make sure to tell the Minister and the Ministry of Ceremonies about your achievents."
"Hmm. I'm counting on you, Bureau Head!"
His lord's attitude showed he was truly relieved by Bureau Head's words. The Minister of the Left was the Minister of benevolence. His many kind policies included helping struggling nobles, and it was said that the relief of needy nobles is one of them. His lord was probably planning to ask the Minister for the next position through Bureau Head.
"Still, going to the Northern region will cost a lot, right? Do you have a daughter who's about to get married? I'll do my best to help you get a position in the nearby Center region district. ...You too."
" too?"
"Yeah. From what I hear, it would be a waste to stay in your current position. I really want to recomnd you for a little more support."
"W-well, that would be... a great honor."
Hearing the Bureau Head's words, the young man gasps. More than joy, he feels a rush of tension. This ant he was about to get caught up in the faction struggles of the imperial court. But... he couldn't refuse because of his position. Plus, it seed like too good of an opportunity to pass up.
A chance to succeed and rise up...!
"Well, let's not just stand here. Let's find a quiet place to talk in detail. I know a good place that serves nice drinks."
"Oh, that sounds great! Co on, let's go!"
The Bureau Head suggests this, aware of the surrounding gazes, and the head of the Ise branch happily agrees. He urges his assistant to follow.
"Y-yes!"
Of course, the assistant has no way to go against this flow. There's no reason to resist either. Anyone else would wish to be in his place. Being invited by a superior, having their face rembered, and even getting a job recomndation feels like a dream.
"Hehe. I understand the tension. Let's relax and chat over drinks, okay? I want to know more about you to recomnd you up the ladder."
The Bureau Head smiles gently, touching the young man's back, as if they were long-ti friends or family.
"I want to know about your strengths and weaknesses at work, and... let's see. Maybe about your family and old stories too, right?"
In the latter part of the Bureau Head's words, the young man feels a strange stickiness that he just can't shake off, leaving him with a sense of unease and discomfort...
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