第５９３堀：餅は餅屋 (Part1)
Chapter 593: Leave it to the Professionals
Side: Yuki
Honestly, school life is never short of events.
Well, the first one was the Kagura event, but the next one arrived almost immediately.
And it’s one of those "school mystery" types.
A classic among classics.
If you’re a Japanese student, haven’t you heard of them at least once?
The Seven Mysteries of the School, or school ghost stories.
That kind of stuff.
In some schools, these mysteries are said to bring good luck, but in most, they lean more toward ghost stories meant to incite fear.
Yes, ghost stories. Phantoms, spirits.
I’d love to say, "Someone, call the Busters," but unfortunately, those don't exist in this world.
Well, I suppose clergy members are supposed to handle that sort of thing, but it’s not like there’s some eccentric priest who would come all the way to the academy to perform an exorcism based on mere rumors.
"I see. So that’s why Labyris stopped going to school."
Seraria nodded, having heard about the day’s events.
After providing the information, Labyris had been listening to us scrutinize the rumors regarding the mystery. Once she realized it involved ghost stories and spirits—or perhaps she had suspected it all along—she declared that she wouldn't return to the academy until we had solved the problem.
"Well, it’s better than her having a mental breakdown. Labyris said she’s been working with Firia or over here, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing."
"True, and there’s no reason to force her to go. Especially since the first-generation Kamishiro is intentionally involved in this mystery; there’s a high possibility it’s the real deal."
"Even if it’s 'real,' it’s more like a screening process, isn't it? I don’t think they’d do anything to harm someone from their own homeland."
"That’s a strong possibility, but it’s been nearly 500 years since they passed away. There’s no guarantee those traps are still functioning as intended."
"How malicious. So, there’s a chance it’s actually started behaving like a genuine ghost story."
"Exactly. That’s why I’m planning to bring in an expert."
"An expert, huh? Well, that child is sensible, and I don’t think you’d treat her carelessly, Yuki, so I won’t say anything. But make sure you get permission from everyone, alright?"
"Of course."
"Then I’ll leave that to you. I’m still busy on this end, after all."
"Got it. Good luck with that."
Seraria is still busy acting as the bridge for intercontinental exchange.
Things have calmed down for the folks from the If Continent since I stepped in, but the exchange itself has only just begun.
From here on out, Queen Seraria, the leader of Weed, is only going to get busier.
To support her, I need to eliminate the problem right in front of us as quickly as possible.
Hence, this course of action.
There is a Japanese proverb for this:
*Leave it to the professionals.*
It means you should leave things to the experts.
Now, since this matter involves ghost stories...
"Yes. Please leave it to me, my husband."
The one responding to my request with a smile is Rurua, who served as a saint in the Ritea Holy Kingdom and possesses top-tier skills as a clergy member.
"I, too, shall provide my support."
And joining us due to certain circumstances is the maid, Kirue.
As for household matters, Sasari and the members staying behind will handle them, so there’s no issue there.
And as for those "certain circumstances"...
"Nn. What’s this about?"
"Toto-sama? What are we talking about?"
The ones who arrived were Cleena and Akiten.
Yes, the "child" Seraria mentioned, and the reason for those circumstances, is Cleena’s daughter, Akiten.
You might wonder why I’d bring such a young child along, but Akiten has a secret.
This child is a monster, an *Oni*—one of the highest-ranking ones you could imagine. She is none other than Shuten-doji, the great boss of the Oni who is feared for having devastated the capital of Kyoto.
That’s the exaggerated version, anyway. In reality, it was more like a power struggle among high-ranking officials who wanted to purge this child for her strange powers, and Shuten-doji—Akiten—was essentially forced into the role of a villain.
Well, after various events, Akiten is now my adopted daughter, and she gets along well with her mother, the red-haired Cleena.
Naturally, the other wives adore her, and the other daughters look up to her as an older sister.
Akiten herself is a good kid who takes care of her younger sisters, so the relationship is perfectly fine.
And so, our special personnel for this mission is Akiten.
When I explained this to Cleena and Akiten...
"No. I cannot allow that. Yuki. Akiten is not a tool. I don’t like it when you say things like that."
As expected, Cleena pulled Akiten close and glared at me.
Well, it is a matter of taking a child into a dangerous place.
No matter how necessary it might be, there aren't many parents who would willingly send their child into a danger zone.
Of course, I don’t want to either.
But in this case, the one who created these rumors is a Japanese priest.
If they were the one who set it up, we can’t be optimistic enough to assume it’s safe or that we can handle it on our own.
The other wives, understanding that sentiment, wore troubled expressions and didn't say anything to Cleena.
"I think you heard me. We need Akiten’s power."
"……I understand that. But that means there’s a high possibility Akiten will be put in danger. I cannot allow that. This child is my precious daughter."
Akiten is Shuten-doji and is well-versed in Japanese spellcraft.
I wanted to use that knowledge to investigate safely.
If things go poorly, I can’t rule out the possibility that we, knowing nothing, could be wiped out.
Japanese spellcraft rarely relies on things that kill you physically.
Like the Infinite Torii, many of them are designed to break a person’s spirit.
And often, you don’t even know what the trigger is.
To proceed efficiently and ensure our safety, Akiten’s power is indispensable.
So, I have no choice but to plead with Cleena earnestly.
I explained that Kirue would be coming along to protect Akiten every step of the way, and that Rurua would handle the actual work.
However, as expected, no matter how much I emphasized safety, a parent is naturally hesitant to send their child into a known danger zone, and Cleena remained sullen.
She used to be a cool, expressionless type when we first met, but lately, she smiles often and makes faces like this. It felt a bit inappropriate, but that’s what I thought.
Well, the situation won't progress just by me thinking about it.
As I was worrying about how to persuade Cleena...
"Kaka-sama. It’s okay."
Suddenly, Akiten spoke up.
"Akiten?"
"Kaka-sama, do you think Toto-sama would put me in danger?"
"……I don’t think so."
"Yeah. I think so too. Toto-sama is veeery kind. I think Kaka-sama knows that too."
"Nn. I know. Yuki is kind."
"So it’s okay. If Toto-sama asks for help, I want to help. I want to be useful to Toto-sama."
"……Akiten."
As Cleena struggled with how to react to Akiten’s resolve, Samantha, who had been listening, spoke up.
"If you are that worried, Cleena-san, you should just come along as well."
"……Samantha. But, my work as a diplomat..."
"I’ll handle that appropriately. Or was there some urgent matter?"
"……No. I can just sprinkle some salt on those bastards."
It was a harsh way of putting it, but she does the bare minimum required as a diplomat.
Exporting goods, exchanging letters—well, it’s for Weed, not for August, so it’s a question of which side she’s actually representing. But since formal exchanges haven't even begun yet and there’s no one else fit for the role, the upper echelons of August probably have no choice but to accept it.