Chapter 152 Lapis Lazuli Veins
A new bond formed after a rich day.
Just like seeds sprouting, tonight's connection will weave a new story thread soon.
But just because one bond is created doesn't mean the old ones disappear.
If Atami Shou were to describe it, everyone is a protagonist in their own life.
As long as we live, the story continues.
Yes.
If you shift your perspective a bit, another stage is already built up, welcoming new developments.
"...The day is noisy, but the night is quiet. Like a little child, isn't it?"
"Noble folks are sensitive to the sparks falling on them. They're probably trying to avoid going out until that serial attacker thing gets sorted."
"Since a little hero tale was spun at noon, shouldn't some of the unease have cleared?"
"Tch."
Beyond the bustling town streets, there's a quiet night path.
Razuri seemed a bit excited, perhaps after hearing tales of her favorite man's bravery.
To Shouk, it was dull.
He honestly wanted to scoff at the so-called hero tales.
But, who knows what could happen if he voiced that?
"To put it that way, I'm like his audience, I guess?"
By some twist of fate, this girl seems infatuated with that jerk (Hiiro Merifar).
Therefore, when he carelessly slipped Hiiro's name that night, Razuri had her eyes on him.
(How much of a curse is Hiiro, seriously?)
Right now, Shouk's position is that of a hired help for Razuri.
Even as hired help, it's not an equal relationship with the employer.
In reality, as was told that night, he was a 'servant.'
Hired help was just a fancy way to avoid bad gossip about being a servant.
Of course, after being attacked and beaten, he had no right to refuse.
What Shouk was ordered to do was gather information.
It mainly focused on the recent 'serial attacker incidents' and Hiiro's movements.
So, Hiiro's bold move that got Razuri all flustered was information she gathered.
She felt like she was about to crush a bitter bug with her hands.
What annoyed her the most was that for Shouk, who had lived in the shadows of this country, gathering such information was not hard at all.
It was the right person in the right place.
The strangely accurate use of it made her feel like her whole life was being seen through, and she didn't like that.
Normally, being treated like a servant was no joke.
Shouk followed Ruzure, but he had no interest in flattering someone who offered little in return.
Even if he was threatened and put down, he was just empty promises.
When gathering information, he could have easily run away.
But even while grumbling, Shouk still hadn't left her side.
If he did leave, he was sure Razuri wouldn't chase after him.
She only saw him as a pawn that conveniently fell into her hands.
If he ran away, she probably wouldn't care much at all.
That was probably the extent of his value.
Yet, something invisible was holding him back from escaping without hesitation.
(Damn it, I've really lost my edge.)
He didn't like it.
After being pushed so hard, the thought of just tucking his tail and running away felt wrong.
For some reason, he really bothered him.
He should have known better than to live like that.
That's what it meant to be Shouk Shateiya.
Why was he thinking like this now?
Every time he asked himself that, a dull pain throbbed at the base of his sharp nose.
Who had given him this painful old scar?
Instead of a name, another bitter bug was crushed.
"So? Did you find out anything else?"
He was trying to figure out what was holding him back from escaping.
The thing that scattered his thoughts like ripples on water was a small stone thrown by a girl.
"Oh... right, there was a strange commotion in the evening. They said some noble's daughter went missing or something."
"Missing?"
At the suspicious sound of it, Razuri's expression sharpened.
"Could it be the work of that random attacker?"
"I don't know. I haven't heard anything about a body showing up yet."
"Hmm. Just like last time, it's noble again. It's sunny now, but dark clouds are creeping in. You're quite clever for noticing that."
Noble is something sensitive, like a creature under falling sparks of fire.
Even the great feat of calming the Star Crown Beast feels like a distant daydream to them.
Thinking about that street crime, it's really a clever move──but you can't hide the irony that sticks out like thorns on a rose.
"Kuku, bad news spreads faster than good news. That knight's heroics might be forgotten by tomorrow!"
"Well, what do you think? More importantly, we need to investigate that disappearance. After we get back to the hideout, I want you to start gathering information right away."
"Wha!? This time? We could just do it tomorrow, right?"
"If bad news spreads faster, then it makes sense that moving quickly lets you catch fresh and pure information, right? Who taught me that information is like fresh food?"
"Ugh, this girl..."
Although she talks like she's being reasonable, her real intention is probably to get back at him.
His own fault for poking the bear, but she's definitely not an easy woman to deal with.
"Tch, I should've just kept quiet about the disappearance. What if it turns out to be nothing important?"
"That would be fine by me. I don't expect to catch a tail with something like this anyway."
"...What's that supposed to mean? What are you fighting against?"
"What am I fighting against? Yes. I want to know."
"..."
Shouk fell silent at the overly suggestive words.
Of course, Shouk had no idea what Razuri was so hostile about.
But the way he was focused on the connections behind the random attack was very suspicious.
It felt like he was dealing with a huge organization or a big shot, and he couldn't shake off the bad feeling.
(Damn it. Even if things get tough, don't mess up the retreat... Shouk Shateiya)
He doesn't want to regret this later because of a moment of doubt.
Shouk told himself to act before it was too late.
However, his hurried steps suddenly stopped as if it was already too late.
He saw Razuri reaching for the door of the shabby old house.
Deep in the bustling town, in a corner where the poor gathered.
It seemed they had arrived at their destination without realizing it.
"Still, this place is a dump. At least make it livable!"
"Thanks for the advice. Don't worry, this is just one of our bases, not the real hideout. But I can't tell a beast like you where it is."
"Tch. It's good to see your master is so cautious!"
Thinking back to how they met, he had no room to argue.
Ignoring the sulking Shouk, Razuri pulled the door and stepped inside.
He was about to follow her, still grumpy──
"The moon is dead."
"Huh!"
As Razuri whispered that, Shouk instinctively placed his hand on his knife and item pouch.
He crouched down, glaring into the pitch-black room.
The moon is dead.
It was one of the signals they agreed on for sharing this cabin.
It meant 'there are signs of intruders.'
The woman who came up with this theatrical signal was now gripping a whip in her hand.
He wondered where she had hidden it, but it wasn't the time to ask.
At least right now, neither Shouk nor Razuri had the luxury to spare.
"..."
"..."
The dark room had no light.
A silence hung in the air, as if even the moon had died.
But if you listen closely, in the middle of the room.
Near an old wooden table and chairs, a shaky breath slipped out.
Someone is definitely there.
The tension grew stronger with certainty.
Just then, in Razuri's hand, the whip made a dull creaking sound.
As if resigned, a man's voice echoed from under the chair.
"W-who's there...?"
"...That's my question, though."
What a strange first question for an intruder.
Razuri answered politely, but didn't relax.
Then, a different voice, a woman's, rang out.
"A-are you the owner of this cabin~?"
"Yes."
"A-aren't you someone hired by the Reskuvan family...?"
"...No."
Razuri sighed softly at the intruder's frightened tone.
It seemed this was not the danger she expected.
She didn't let go of the whip, but with her other hand, she lit the lamp on the entrance shelf.
Handing it to Shouk, the small man placed the lamp carelessly on the table.
Naturally, the young couple hiding under the chair came into view.
The size of her second sigh was not held back.
"...If you're going to do that *sort of thing*, I'd really prefer you take it somewhere else."
"Huh? N-no, that's not it!"
"I-it's true~, there's a reason for this..."
"Tch, what reason could there be... You're a nuisance."
Razuri and Shouk were both fed up with the intruders.
In a place with no atmosphere at all.
Their attitude hinted at this, causing the hidden couple to stand up in a panic.
However, their plea of misunderstanding lacked strength.
There was no doubt they had barged in, and their embarrassment was clear.
But.
The moment Razuri saw the female intruder's face, her eyes widened in shock.
"Huh...?"
"...What does this mean?"
Confusion passed between them like a mirror image.
The shock was not only Razuri's.
Shouk and the intruding couple also wore expressions of great surprise.
Because.
The woman's face was, without a doubt.
"Exactly like" Razuri's face.
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