kscans

Chapter 212 - Hyakka's Resolve and Mizuki's Feelings

With Mizuki's return, we all took our seats again. The members present were our party, Levante, Hyakka's group, New World, and finally Maryanne and Patricia. The dining hall felt a bit cramped with this many people, though there was probably still room for one more group. Trusar had departed when Maryanne arrived. Since Maryanne and Hyakka's group were meeting for the first time, I gave them a brief introduction. A bowl of grapes sat on the table, and Patricia was pouring tea for everyone. Before she could finish serving us all, I picked up a grape. The tartness stood out more than the sweetness, a perfect jolt for my tired mind.

"Istvan-sama is sending over a maid who can cook,"

Maryanne said, watching the busy Patricia.

"For what reason? We can't afford to hire a maid."

"It's to get on your good side, of course. The Air-Ally family will be paying her wages."

"Like the guards posted outside?"

To that, Maryanne gave a vague nod.

"I wonder if she'll fight with Patricia."

I'd thought Istvan was the type who'd rather see me driven out of town. Was he trying to keep his options open? Or was this a case of 'if you can't get rid of him, get him on your side'?

"I find it hard to believe that someone trying to curry favor with you, Mash, would bring a source of conflict with them. Besides, Patricia is Mo's attendant, isn't she? The person Istvan-sama sends will primarily be serving you, so I doubt the two will clash."

Maryanne didn't know Patricia's current standing. At her words, Patricia seemed to tense up, pouring Famu's tea right up to the cup's brim, testing its surface tension.

"So, were you able to meet with Yuuki?"

I asked. Mizuki shook her head.

"I left a message at the guild for now, but... hey, why is everyone looking at me so seriously?"

At her words, all eyes turned to me. I knew this was coming. It looked like I was the one who had to tell her.

"This is difficult to bring up, but... about last night, I've decided to go apologize to the Leafkraut family. And I've decided to bring a gift box of sweets. I'll make the box, so could you bake some cookies?"

"Huh? Right now? I mean, I don't mind, but..."

Mizuki nodded, looking completely lost. Myra, sitting beside her, cleared her throat.

"That's not it, is it! Be serious, please."

With Cecily, our usual straight man, gone, Mizuki's retorts had lost their edge recently. Levante had become a party of nothing but jokesters with no one to play the straight man. Perhaps Myra was trying to expand her own comedic repertoire. Beside me, Famu was cautiously trying to bring a cup to her mouth with trembling hands. But mercilessly, the vibrations caused the tea to spill. She scrambled to catch it with her mouth.

"Ouch!"

More tea spilled.

I just wanted to keep watching Famu. I didn't want to talk to Mizuki. My thoughts were trying to escape. But this was something I had to address now.

"Mizuki, the truth is... Clovis, the elf who shot at me and Famu last night. Hyakka knew him."

"Huh? Really?"

She sent a glance toward Hyakka, who quietly lowered her eyes. Mizuki seemed to grasp the gravity of the atmosphere. The smile vanished from her face as she prompted me to continue.

"According to her, Clovis was an associate of the Yuuki who killed her comrades."

"..."

The color drained from her face. Surely, even she didn't believe that her Yuuki and this Yuuki were two different people. I briefly recounted the story Hyakka had told me to Mizuki. Then, I explained Famu's circumstances and the events of last night to Hyakka.

"Yamase-san... over here, I'm just gonna call ya Mizuki. I'll leave the negotiations with Clovis to Mash. But after that, no matter what happens, we're challengin' Yuuki to a duel."

"No... Mash, you wouldn't say something like that, would you?"

Mizuki shot to her feet and looked at me.

"I'm against you challenging them to a duel, Hyakka."

"What was that?!"

Hyakka stood up as well.

"Both sides have special skills. I can't predict what'll happen if you clash head-on. Besides, they're the ones who launched a surprise attack, so they can't complain if we do the same to them."

I was also concerned about the special skill of that girl who was crouched down with her back to us. It had blocked Laciel's arrow and her charm ability. There was a chance Hyakka's special skills wouldn't work either. On top of that, it allowed her allies' attacks to pass through. In that case, they would be hit by a one-sided assault thanks to Yuuki's special skill. Hearing my words, Hyakka sat back down in her chair and took a sip of tea.

"So you're sayin' it's fine for us to do whatever we want to Yuuki and his crew, right? We don't have to fight fair and square?"

"That's not right! He's a fellow Otherworlder, your senpai!"

Mizuki shouted in response to Hyakka's words.

"Mizuki, it wasn't just Hyakka's group that Yuuki attacked. Emma, too. Her partner was actually killed. And Joe and his crew said they know another Otherworlder who was attacked by him."

Mizuki turned back to face me.

"I can't believe it! But... you still want to save Sameim, who's with them, don't you? Why are you willing to help Famu's friend but not mine?!"

"She wasn't part of their group when they attacked Hyakka."

But that was just sophistry. From the start, I had decided to save Sameim no matter what. And as for Yuuki, all I'd thought about were ways to defeat him. That wouldn't change, even if he was Mizuki's senpai.

"That's not it, is it? I believed you weren't the kind of person who would go out of their way to kill someone, or condone that kind of act. So why won't you try to find a way to avoid this for my sake? Weren't you traveling to help all the Otherworlders find happiness?"

"Mash, Mizuki... Sorry, but no matter what Mizuki says, we're gonna take Yuuki and his lot down. If you try to help that man or let him escape, you're all just as guilty,"

Hyakka muttered. Her words felt like a cold blade pressed against my throat. Mizuki must have felt the same; she took a step back.

"I won't believe it. But if my senpai really is attacking other Otherworlders, I'll do my best to make him change his ways. Mash, stop Hii-chan... stop Hyakka!"

"Hyakka, Yuuki must have his reasons. Can the duel wait until after we've figured them out?"

"Mash, Mizuki, you two haven't been in this world for much more than two months, so you don't get it. You don't know how cheap life is here. That's exactly why connections between people are so important. Besides, what kind of reason could ever justify killin' someone?"

It was clear Hyakka had no intention of backing down.

"I... I'm going to find out for myself!"

Mizuki bolted towards the door.

"Wait, calm down!"

I jumped up and chased after her, my hand grasping at empty air as I tried to grab her shoulder.

I ran, chasing after Mizuki as she burst outside. The way her shoulder blades, peeking out from her long hair, swayed smoothly back and forth... they created the twist in her body that produced the beautiful slide of her legs. I'd never be able to catch her. In a situation like this, what was I doing getting so serious about running, I cursed inwardly.

"Mizuki!"

I shouted, but she didn't stop. A guard, noticing our approach, kindly opened the gate. Mizuki raced through it in a wide arc to enter the street. If I missed this chance, I'd never catch her. I ran in a straight line and dove, tackling her around the waist.

"Kya!"

The two of us tumbled onto the road. My grip on her body almost slipped, but if she got away, catching her would be impossible. I desperately held on to her waist. She twisted her body, still trying to break free and run, but eventually, she seemed to give up and went limp. We ended up with Mizuki on her back and me on my stomach, clinging to her waist.

"Mash..."

She pushed herself up onto one elbow. I lifted my head to see her face. As I did, a drop of something trickled down her chin. It landed on my forehead, ran down the side of my nose, and reached my mouth. When I tasted it, it was blood.

"Mizuki... you've got a nosebleed..."

I pulled out something to wipe it with and handed it to her. She pressed the bridge of her nose while wiping away the blood. Then, with a clean part of the cloth, she wiped my face.

"Mash, you won't help me like you help Famu."

"I've always thought you were special, Mizuki. Someone strong who doesn't need my help."

"Famu is much stronger than I am..."

she murmured weakly, turning her face away.

"Mash, I want us all to go home. I want a happy ending."

I remembered Myra saying something similar.

"A fairy tale ends happily ever after... right?"

No matter what happened, Levante had to stick together. We had to overcome this as one. That was the resolve I'd steeled myself with before every battle. I'm weak. I'm easily swayed by my emotions, and I hesitate only to make mistakes. But besides her, I have Famu and Myra, and now Marmi. We all have to trust each other and get through this together.

"Mash, I don't want to give up. I want you to be on my side, right to the very end. I want you to search with me. I don't want to believe my senpai attacked other Otherworlders. And even if he did, I believe there must have been a reason."

Her hand rested on my head, stroking my hair.

"First, we have to confirm that, right? And Mizuki..."

"What?"

"It's not very convincing when you say all that with a nosebleed."

"Ugh! This is your fault! I'm worried, but it won't stop!"

I took the cloth from her hand and wiped under her nose for her.

"We still don't have all the facts. We don't have the pieces we need to even start thinking. First, let's go to the Leafkraut house."

At my words, she nodded.