Mob Yandere

[Part 3/6]

Aoi expressed her gratitude to her grandmothers who had come to welcome her. Immediately, Kochou noticed something unusual.

"...Where is he?"

"He disappeared early in the morning. That woman said she sent him ahead, but... do you know anything?"

Kochou immediately guessed who that woman referred to. At the same time, she felt doubtful.

"Sumire-san, huh... We may need to ask her later. And also, that child."

Kochou's murmurs were small and cold. She hadn't been informed beforehand. Moreover, probably no one else was... Did that couple decide something secretly? And did they send him ahead to this mansion alone? Where is he now?

"We'll have a council meeting in a while. We'll talk about the details afterward... Shirowakamaru-san, please return to your room. Your goal doesn't seem attainable for now."

"Shiro, you should also return to my room."

"But...!"

"Yes, Princess... Excuse me."

As if interrupting Shirowakamaru's reluctantly given words, the white fox girl responded. Her voice sounded weak, lifeless, and even cold. Shirowakamaru, who was standing right next to her, gave her a puzzled look. But she ignored it and politely bowed before quickly leaving the place.

"...Shirowakamaru-san, I understand how you feel, but for now, please follow my orders, okay?"

"...Excuse me."

Glancing at the retreating white fox, Kochou once again requested her disciple. Shirowakamaru reluctantly nodded and headed in her master room's direction...

"Hey, what happened to that fox girl?"

"There are some complicated circumstances. Well, it's not just that..."

Her granddaughter's response to her inquiry about the white fox's atmosphere was not clear. It seemed like she didn't want to talk about it, or rather, the circumstances were complex. Perhaps, it was also related to him...

"I see... Well, let's go for now."

Conceding to Aoi's attitude, Kochou urged her to move toward the council. Aoi also silently nodded and followed.

As they headed deeper into the mansion, both of them felt an inexplicable sense of unease in their hearts...

"You've done well to return. I appreciate your efforts in subduing the monster (youma) that defiled our homeland."

Sitting at the head, the head of the Onitsuki family, Yuusei, made a somewhat formal declaration. Then, the leader of the expedition, Sumire, followed by the household members, Shizu and Tamaki, bowed their heads. Yuusei nodded, and they returned to their respective seats, leaving the place next to her husband to Sumire.

"Now then, we have also received commendations from the imperial court for this expedition. We have received a reward in gold coins as well. Along with the spoils recovered from 'Mayoiga,' how does that sound? Will it cover the expenses for this year's Joraku (visiting capital)?"

"We need to conduct a detailed inspection, but... if we include the support from the trading company, we should manage somehow."

The finance officer, Uemon, confidently answered the head's question. The expressions of those in the council brightened. The fact that the funds were secured, including assistance to other families, was fortunate. Especially for Onitsuki Hina's faction.

"Indeed. We will also prepare rewards for those who participated in this expedition, including the laborers and servants. Those who work should receive appropriate rewards. By the way..."

After conveying the point to Uemon, the head looked at Sumire as if recalling something. Then he continued.

"I believe we've received a report through the shikigami... You've hired several new people in our house, right?"

"Yes, that's correct. One servant from the Asakuma family that was drifting in 'Mayoiga,' and two laborers who were already working here. We are considering employing them as servants and general workers."

His wife responded to her husband's question. To explain in more detail, the former had no home to return to as he was highly skilled, while the latter lost their place to live as they were attacked by invisible youkai and got lost inside 'Mayoiga.'

"Servants are always in short supply, and some laborers were also lost during this incident... Is that acceptable?"

"I leave the details to you. Coordinate with Uemon. Is there any objection from everyone?"

In response to Sumire's confirmation, Yuusei asked the assembled people. There was no reply. It meant they agreed. In fact, no one wanted to make a fuss about such a matter.

"Very well, it's settled. Now, on to the next agenda... But before that, there's something I must discuss."

Upon hearing those words, everyone in the council, except one, turned their heads in confusion. The daily council agendas were generally known in advance. Suddenly adding something unexpected here was unusual. Some were puzzled, some were shaken, and some were on guard, trying to anticipate what Yuusei meant to say.

"Enter."

Responding to Yuusei's invitation, the sliding door to the council room opened. At the same time, almost everyone in the room was shocked by the unexpected guest. The person invited was unexpected.

It was a servant in black clothes wearing a hannya mask.

"Tomobe-kun...?"

"This is..."

"..."

Whispers and murmurs filled the room. Everyone speculated about the purpose of the man's entrance.

"Yun-shoku!? What are you doing here!!? You can't just enter a place like this on your own...!"

Shizu, who was the superior, shouted angrily at the intruder. But immediately, a hand was held up in front of her to stop her. It was the head of the servant group, Onitsuki Shisui.

"Sh-Shisui-sama...? What's going on...!?"

"Calm down, Assistant. Didn't the Head give the order? To let him in."

"What? But... no way!?"

Ignoring the astonished Shizu, the man in black with the hannya mask entered the room. He seemed completely unaware of the unfriendly and sometimes hostile gazes from dozens of people in the room.

When he reached the middle of the room, the servant dropped to his knees on the tatami floor and deeply bowed his head. It was as if a condemned criminal was presenting his head for decapitation...

Aoi unconsciously glanced at her grandmother through the gap in her fan, silently appealing to her. Her grandmother seemed equally perplexed. It was proof that this situation had been completely unexpected. Even Kochou, with her wide network within the Onitsuki family, had not noticed until just now. And judging from the reactions of those around...

(As I suspected, he acted on his own.)

Having recovered from the confusion early on since her return, Aoi began to speculate on the situation. She used her sharp intellect to predict what her father was planning and what he was trying to do now. She prepared arguments to defend his beloved, no matter what charges he might face.

"Servant's Yun-shoku, I need to confirm. You were trapped in 'Mayoiga' during this mission. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that's correct."

In the heavy and tense atmosphere of the interrogation-like question, the servant answered concisely. "Trapped in 'Mayoiga'..." Some attendees sighed with a groan at his words. Their reactions seemed more like genuine surprise than mistrust. Even among those present, few could confidently claim they could escape from the powerful 'Mayoiga.' It was quite an achievement for a mere servant to return alive... It appeared to be an attitude of disbelief.

"After that, despite having escaped once, you ignored the warnings from your surroundings and invaded 'Mayoiga' again, isn't that right?"

"Wait! That's..."

"I ordered him to do so."

As the Head pursued the question further, Tamaki tried to defend, but Aoi firmly interrupted her with a resounding voice. And she continued.

"I knew there were survivors inside, so I ordered him. It would be a shame for the Onitsuki family to abandon the young lady of our care while doing nothing to help. I made a reasonable decision."

Aoi answered smoothly, as if singing a song. Although she never looked at him, the young girl, who was the subject of her assistance, turned pale from guilt.

"Didn't you think it was a reckless decision?"

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