[Part 3/5]
"Well, um... no?"
"How about your wife or someone like that?"
"I don't have one."
"That's not good!"
Kakitsugi Kanaki shook his head dramatically. I couldn't help but be surprised, and the laborers and soldiers walking around us also looked surprised at him. Kanaki, without caring about their reactions, just emphasized and pointed out as if to persuade them.
"That's really not good at all! After all the effort to gain your position, it's the duty of a successful person to start a family. You should have kids quickly. Even if you are killed, or even if you become unable to do your duties on the front lines, if you have kids, the family will continue...!!"
"Well, um... I suppose so."
Kakitsugi Kanaki pointed out something with a threatening attitude. Almost accusation. I had a bad feeling about it. A feeling of trouble.
"Uh, I'm going to check the bushes over there..."
"Hey, Inaba! You come here! Introduce yourself!"
I tried to get away from the weird feeling, or maybe the chill, but I was too late. There is a voice from behind. The sound of small feet running towards me.
What I saw was a girl who lowered her head as if to cover it with force.
"...Are you treating me?"
"No, I'm not buying you food, okay?"
"Hmm..."
I was puzzled by the first question, and she raised her head as if to answer. I looked at her again.
A teenager at best, not very expressive, a sour-faced brat....
"This is my stupid daughter... She has been honored with the duty of guarding this time, her name is Inaba"
"...I'm Inaba. Nice to meet you"
The humble father and the emotionless daughter contrasted beautifully.
"Haah..."
For now, I understood that I was about to get involved in a troublesome situation.
...And I didn't notice the gaze coming from deep within the forest.
"Ah, there you are. Are you also in trouble? It must be tough."
"No boundaries, huh? That's just how tough the kitchen situation is."
"Stop it, will you? This place is a trap. It won't do any good to marry into it."
A short break on the mountain path. During that time, I gathered information and what came to me was a mixture of mockery, pity, and disbelief about the Kakitsugi family's situation.
It seems that this exorcists' family, before the Joraku incident, suffered quite a heavy loss.
Originally, there were only a few capable members in the family who could call themselves exorcists, and unfortunately, they drew the short straw in the battle against the samurai skulls in the ancient battlefield of the eastern land.
At that time, many exorcists were dispatched from various families to the scene, but a powerful grudge spirit that had been sealed deep underground there was resurrected. It is said that the miscellaneous exorcists who were nearby were being killed one after another.
The exorcists who were killed in a surprise attack amounted to a total of eight. The final sacrifice was twelve people. The fact that four of them were members of the Kakitsugi family is merely because the grudge spirit jumped out from under their feet. It can only be described as unfortunate.
What makes it even more unfortunate is that the four who were lost were elite members of the family, including the head of the family and his son.
"Then, what about Kanaki-dono?"
"He's the hidden younger brother of the head of the family. It seems that the direct line was almost wiped out, so they made the selection by process of elimination."
Someone from a branch of the Kyoma family who answers my questions. According to the story, the current head of the family's abilities are far from reaching the level of the head of the family, but he is considered to be passable as an exorcist. Moreover, the other members should be known by their own merits.
"It must have been chaotic for the poor exorcist family, who had already lost their main force and then received pressure from Joraku, not to mention the lack of money."
Three months ago, a written request was made to extend the guardianship for an additional four months due to local responsibilities. It seems that the grandson of the left Daijin (a court official who serves near the emperor) responded with grateful words, saying something like, "Well, at least fulfill your duty to show gratitude, since you are exorcists!"... It's a challenging world.
"So, is that all?"
"As the head of the family has no choice but to go on a business trip, the young lady will have to prepare quickly. We can't expect her to be a fighting force. Dealing with medium-class youkai is one thing, but facing great youkai is challenging. Perhaps the purpose of taking her along is something else."
That's the response of a young member of the Karesumi family, with a mix of scorn and pity in their words.
...It seems that the head of the family has been doing similar things wherever he goes. Moreover, it seems he is hoping to find a son-in-law. It's easy to speculate the reasons based on the circumstances so far.
"This is simply a lack of manpower. It seems he has no other sons... He must have thought that he could expand his forces and keep his family line by doing that."
"Tomobe-dono defeated a great youkai. If it is under the jurisdiction of the heir house, that would be enough. He might be hoping for assistance from the prestigious Onitsuki's Household Member Coordinator. He has a lot of influence."
By the way, before me, he also approached the head of the other house. They naturally brushed him off and avoided him.
"Isn't it natural? Why would we marry into a declining house with a shallow history, huh?"
"They say don't be a chicken head when you can be a cow tail... But he probably has no intention of making an outsider the head of the house. Rather, they would end up fighting with Kanaki-dono in enemy territory. They would be worked like a horse and asked for money. That's what would happen."
They said that house was a minefield. And they told me not to accept rashly. There was no malice there, only pure goodwill.
"I don't really intend to agree, too..."
"Well then, that's fine. Since you're already here, you might as well look for a better property. Perhaps the main family can help select one for you to continue living in."
"If it were to involve those peasants' daughters, it would be a different story, but since it's the same exorcists family... It would just become a laughingstock later."
Hmm, yeah. Nodding, they offered exorcists-like advice. Their attitude left me with an indescribable feeling.
(I wonder if it's a good thing or a bad thing that they no longer look at me like before...)
I knew. Until just the other day, until late last night, the gaze directed at me was truly... curious, disdainful, and hostile... It definitely changed after the success of that mission.
In some way or another, the secret illegal doping, 'Energy Boost 3000x! Yobobitan BK! *1♪'... Even with the doping included, in my desperate state, they certainly seemed to acknowledge my abilities in that mission. They may look down on my abilities, but they don't scorn me. At the very edge, stubborn as they are, it seemed like the majority recognized me as an exorcist (temporary) to some extent. It was an attitude like, "Hmm, I guess he can handle missions at this level, for now."
...No, to be honest, I'm not really happy about being treated like that. Or rather, has someone directly spoken to me in my mind?
"I understand. But the problem is... well, the time?"
The conversation is cut off suddenly. We had no choice but to end it. The cone was blown. It meant the end of the break. It meant continuing the journey.
"Well then, if you'll excuse me."
The two people on the other side also bow in return. Just this alone meant that my position had changed significantly. I turn around and head towards the ox cart. And I couldn't help but stop and ask.
"...Middle Counselor-sama (Chuunagon)? What is it?"
"Oh. Household Member Coordinator, is it? Oh no, I was just taking a little walk. It's the season when the summer grass grows vigorously. I was thinking about interesting content for next month's poetry gathering."
I couldn't believe my eyes when the Middle Counselor came out of the bushes with a pen and paper in hand. He seemed completely unaware of the danger on this mountain path, which left me even more shocked, especially after the warning I received earlier today. How can someone who has done such terrible things now act so carefree? I honestly don't understand.
"...Middle Counselor-sama, this is where the Mōryō (collective of yokais) live. We never know when they might attack. Please be careful."
I couldn't shout at him. I had to be polite, humble, and beg. If this old man were to die, someone would be held responsible. And it's likely that, as someone in a weaker position, I would be the one blamed. Please spare me.
"Hmm... Let me think. ...Oh, how about you help me? My legs are not in good condition. It's quite difficult for me to get into a cart."
"...I understand."
Even though I think he has a shamelessly thick skin, I don't show any signs of it and agree. I pretend not to notice the intense stares from the laborers and slowly help the old man into the car. Meanwhile, he cruelly puts his weight on me, as if he's pressing down on his hostage.
If I had the power, I wouldn't have to do things I don't want to do. I had that thought in the back of my mind...
"Are you okay?"
"No. It's just..."
In response to the seemingly insincere gratitude, I replied respectfully. But just as I was about to speak, something caught my attention.
"...!!?"
I felt a sense of danger, almost like a sixth sense. An indescribable feeling of alarm...!!
"Stay back...!!?"
I pushed the Middle Counselor to the back of the cart and turned around with great force. As I turned, I saw it and instinctively drew a dagger from my waist, releasing a sharp killing intent.
"Tchii!!?"
Immediately, the dagger was deflected with a metallic sound and buried in the ground.
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