Mob Yandere

[Part 2/4]

Meanwhile, the two colleagues who witnessed Ukon's embarrassing fall look puzzled at first but end up bursting into laughter, finding it more amusing than mocking.

...For the person being laughed at, though, it doesn't feel funny at all.

"Come on, Ukon! Pull yourself together!"

"Good morning, still half-asleep?"

"Aaaaaaah!!"

The laughter is drowned out by a scream. Both his colleagues and I are startled, and right after that, he loosens the outfit he was wearing, exposing his abdomen with an angry expression. Wait a minute. It's a bit late, but this situation...

"Hey, that's embarrassing!! I hope you’re still alive?!"

"Right, Ukon!"

Feeling a strong sense of déjà vu, I kicked away the Wakizashi that Ukon had pulled out. It was dangerous. It was a close call.

...Wait, hold on. Are you seriously going to perform seppuku in someone else's room? Are you going to die? Is this a soul sacrifice? Is this the second joke following last year?

"I'll assist in the ritual!"

"No, I haven't even cut my stomach yet!"

I also kicked away the other sword that tried to assist in the ritual, even though he hasn't even performed the act. Don't mess up someone else's room. Are you going to lose your head? Is this really the final blow?

"I'll assist in the ritual!"

"Didn't you see what just happened!?"

Since someone else also tried to assist in the ritual, I dealt with them in the same way. Three swords now lay scattered on the ground. It's not second time's the charm, but third time's the charm.

"""..."""

The three of them remained silent. They looked at their hands... and then at each other.

"""Enough, let's not say anything anymore!"""

"What about the flow of the conversation!?"

Three southern warrior attackers rushed at me with their backup daggers (tantō), and I made a comment while dealing with them. Excitedly, I suppressed their wide swings, full of openings, with my hand blade. I dodged, swept their legs, kicked them away, and knocked them out with a hilt strike.

As if the previous chaos was a lie, silence fell...

"Um, um... Aniki?"

"Tomobe-sama?"

I looked down at the three unconscious warriors for a moment, then turned around at the hesitant call from behind. The siblings had a perplexed expression that was hard to describe. Well, I guess I should follow the usual tradition here, right?

"These mad dogs from the south. They are really beasts."

Half of it was said with genuine seriousness, and I uttered those words...

* * *

"Oh no, I apologize deeply. It's all my fault due to my incompetence. To fulfill my supervisory responsibility, I shall perform seppuku here to apologize..."

"No, that's not necessary. By the way, doesn't it smell bloody since earlier?"

After incapacitating the three warriors, the conversation took place in a room at the inn where the mission was staying. The person who speaks in a solemn and accentless tone, apologizing and bowing respectfully, is the superior of the three southern region warriors.

Ikaku clan chief retainer, Guardian of the mission, Inoue Yasumori, is an elderly warrior with a serious and intense expression, who continues to apologize for his subordinates' rudeness. He is even willing to commit seppuku on the spot if required.

Even though it would be quite troublesome to be cut open.

"...My own honor is not the issue. The honor of the Onitsuki family, that is the real concern."

This is the response to the chief retainer's apology. And I turn my gaze to the side. I catch a glimpse of a dignified young girl, Onitsuki Hina, sitting upright beside me, her eyes closed in silence.

"Princess."

"...It's a small matter before the important thing. As long as we have the duty to protect, we should not lose valuable soldiers over such a trivial matter. Seppuku is unnecessary."

After a period of silence, I finally heard Hina's response to my call. In a calm and cold tone, she first logically denied the need for self-punishment and sighed before continuing to speak.

"...However, it is truly unpleasant to have Onitsuki's clan's honor mocked. I would like a letter of apology from all those involved later. And I also request a blood oath to prevent a recurrence."

"Of course. It should not happen again, especially during such an honorable duty."

"Also, I would like to confirm the seating arrangements once again. Is that acceptable?"

Harshly and relentlessly, Hina demanded clarification and confirmation. It was unforgiving, but necessary.

In the first place, the cause of this commotion was due to the hierarchy of the mission's protectors.

Participating in the diplomatic mission were guardian warrior exorcist families. Their positions during the march or seating at nightly banquets were delicate topics in the strictly hierarchical Fusō-kuni.

While the hierarchy among court nobles was relatively clear, the sequence between exorcist families and warrior families remained intentionally ambiguous. This ambiguity was maintained to preserve the dignity of both sides and, simultaneously, to serve the purpose of creating divisions, preventing unity.

Like on the recent banquet at the town inn, it became a scene of conflict over who should sit in the highest seat. The complication arose from the direct lineage of an 800-year-old prestigious exorcist family in the Northern region, which was further complicated by the fact that the mother hailed from a poor peasant family. On the opposing side was a key retainer associated with one of the prominent daimyo families in the Southern region. The complexities of official positions and age, intertwined with these familial relationships, created a contentious issue regarding who deserved the top seat. What's intriguing is that the dispute wasn't primarily driven by the individuals involved but rather by the societal norms and expectations surrounding them.

Now, in the exorcist family assigned to the guardian squad, the Onitsuki family could be considered the highest-ranked, while in the warrior family, it was the Inoe family. The issue of which representative would sit next to the envoy at the banquet became a topic only moments before the event. By the time they realized it, the matter had evolved into a dispute that slipped from the hands of those directly involved.

The recent turmoil was a ripple effect of this. The rash actions of the Inoue family's retainers, influenced by the atmosphere of those around them, led to arguably the worst possible outcome.

"...There is no other choice. We will give you the upper seat."

With a pained expression and sweat streaming down his forehead, the chief retainer made the offer. Originally, the envoy had confirmed placing the Onitsuki family's representative, Hina, closest, signifying a complete victory for the Onitsuki family.

However, the resolution did not come from this.

"No, that's not an issue. ...Onitsuki family will concede the top seat at the banquet to the Inoue family."

"Whoa...!?"

Inoue Yasumori's eyes widen in astonishment and disbelief at Hina's unexpected proposal. He furrows his brow, showing displeasure and questioning the motives behind the suggestion.

"What kind of understanding is this? Pity for our family? Ordering us to add further shame...?"

Thrown into turmoil, causing a commotion, and even receiving a letter of apology while reluctantly giving up the seat of honor... It was a humiliation beyond words. Yasumori's expression tightens, a mix of anger and shame.

"...I didn't express myself clearly. To put it correctly, during the tenure of our Onitsuki family's guardianship, we offered to yield the seat of honor to the Inoue family."

Hina declares solemnly and weightily. The family chief retaienr tilts his head in confusion, then comprehends with frustration.

"...Is Middle Counselor (Chuunagon) okay with this?"

The subject of discussion was the old man sitting on the upper seat. He was dressed in fine attire, appearing cheerful or casually carefree. Middle Counselor (Chuunagon) Tokugara Masumichi, the representative of the mission... he nodded repeatedly to the questions from Yasumori and responded.

"Hmm. The proposal from the princess of the Onitsuki family is truly legitimate... It wouldn't be reasonable to reject this in terms of fulfilling the imperial decree, would it?"

The duty of guardianship was both to serve as an escort for the mission and, when needed, to fulfill the role of the mission's sword.

And Onitsuki Hina's abilities as an exorcist, including her unique talents, were among the best for protecting the envoy, and at the same time, she was fitting as a pure escort, yet also unfitting.

"As you know, my ability is powerful, but I have not fully mastered it. Middle Counselor-sama, or anyone else by my side, I cannot guarantee their safety when I activate my powers."

Hina speaks honestly about her abilities.

Onitsuki Hina's power, 'Annihilation,' is the incineration of concepts. Its strength lies in the ability to selectively target and incinerate objects on a conceptual level, unlike typical fire-based abilities.

It can cause simple incineration of the target, or inflict damage that is difficult to heal or regenerate. If necessary, it can even completely incinerate only a "part" of the opponent. Conversely, it can also 'Annihilation' her own injuries, even escaping the fate of death. This versatile and adaptable ability, however, still surpasses its owner's control.

"When the time comes, I will be able to defeat the enemy. However... I must admit, I cannot guarantee the aftermath. With my immature self unable to fully control my abilities, if I were to fight by your side, I may end up involving others in the process."

And that indeed was the reason to give up the upper seat. What if there were an attack during a banquet, negotiation, or other gatherings? Could the best choice be made in a moment's decision? Can she skillfully wield uncontrollable abilities? Will her flames not harm allies and those to be protected?

"Let us temporarily set aside the clear seating arrangement and hierarchy on this occasion. Instead, during the course of this duty, until the return to the capital, shall the Inoe family sit by my side? Conversely, Onitsuki's princess will take the lowest seat. Of course, let's make the reasons known... How does that sound?"