Chapter 66

Yahiro snickered before looking up as he felt a gaze. A girl holding a white Moujuu like a plushie was standing right beside him. She was Iroha’s youngest sister, Runa Senou. “You want some too, Runa?” he asked her, confused as to why she was staring at him. Runa nodded with a blank expression and opened her mouth. So she wanted him to feed her? “Umm…okay?” After she stayed in the same position for a while, Yahiro gave in. Runa munched on the cookie like a little critter. Yahiro smiled at the sight and gave her another. Runa nibbled on the cookie again. He had heard she was about seven years old, but no one—not even Iroha—knew her exact age. Her small body made her seem even younger, but she was too smart and collected for such a young girl. Also, for whatever reason, she seemed fond of Yahiro from the moment they met. In a way, she was the most mysterious character out of Iroha’s siblings. “Grooming little girls now?” Yahiro heard a scathing accusation as he watched Runa silently chow down on the cookie with a smile on his face. Rosetta Berith had popped out of nowhere to glare at him. “Can you not malign me for innocently giving her a snack?” “The grin on your face hides some dark intentions.” “I am not grinning.” “Yahiro, Yahiro, me next. Ahh.” Giulietta Berith, standing beside Rosé, opened her mouth to receive a cookie. The annoying part about this girl was that he couldn’t tell whether she was serious or joking. “Sorry, there are no more cookies for you. Get your sister to make some.” “Wha…? Save some for me!” Giuli pouted as he pushed the empty bowl her way. Yahiro paid her no mind and looked out the window as he realized the train was slowing down. “Is it your first time in Kyoto?” Rosé asked as she saw him look at the sights with interest. Yahiro shook his head. “I came here once in grade school for a trip.” “A school trip… Was Sui Narusawa with you?” “No, she didn’t go. She’d always been sickly, so Dad didn’t let her.” “I see.” Rosé nodded as though she understood everything. Yahiro found her reaction strange, but he couldn’t ask anything before Iroha cut in excitedly. “Yahiro, look! Wow! Now that’s Kyoto!” She pulled his arm and drew up close to the window. Right away, he understood why she was so excited. The view beyond the window was unlike the ruins he was expecting. One could see the shrines and temples typical of Kyoto, but what caught his attention the most were the common houses and buildings. It was the same city landscape he’d seen once before. “What in the world is going on here?” he mumbled. “Huh? What’d you mean?” Iroha looked at him with a furrowed brow. Yahiro shook his head hard in confusion. “It’s the same as when I came here on the field trip! Why wasn’t Kyoto affected by the J-nocide…?” “Ah… Maybe they were lucky?” “How lucky you gotta be for this?!” Yahiro sighed with exhaustion in response to Iroha’s unfazed reaction. It had been four years since the J-nocide and its effects extended throughout Japan. The Moujuu’s emergence and the international armies’ attacks turned all major cities in the country into ruins. Yahiro saw that firsthand on his way here. Yet Kyoto was the exception. There were no people around, but the city itself was intact, as though the center of Kyoto alone had been split from the flow of time. “That’s because this is the Heavenly Imperial House’s turf,” a man responded to Yahiro’s question. A former Ganzheit agent and the Heavenly Imperial House’s envoy, Auguste Nathan. He was the Galerie’s prisoner, but he was able to freely roam around the Yáo Guāng Xīng. Giuli and Rosé had no intention of stopping him. “What do you mean, Nathan? Did the Moujuu not appear in Kyoto?” Yahiro asked with suspicion. Nathan shook his head. “No, of course they appeared here. Kyoto is unharmed, thanks to Myoujiin.” “What?” “Karura Myoujiin can control the Moujuu, just like Iroha Mamana here,” Nathan explained while staring at her shocked face. The armored train came to a screeching halt inside Kyoto Station, and Nathan continued, “She protected Kyoto. You can ask her for further details. That is why you came here, isn’t it?” Nathan smiled at Yahiro and Iroha, who were at a loss for words. They could do no more than nod in silence. 2 “We’re here…!” Iroha’s siblings cheered in the armored train’s lounge. Once stopped at the dark and desolate Kyoto Station platform, the Yáo Guāng Xīng deployed its spades to anchor and prepared its main cannons to fire, precaution for any possible enemies or bandits. However, the station was terribly silent. The building itself was oddly clean, without a hint of dilapidation. The only abnormal thing about it was the eerie lack of sound. “What country has control of Kyoto Station?” Yahiro asked as he equipped his precious Kuyou Masakane. “Kyoto is a buffer zone. The Heavenly Imperial House maintains the facilities, but it’s not under anyone’s official control,” Rosé responded stoically but thoroughly. Yahiro felt a little relief. He was thinking of the conflict with the Chinese Federal Army a few days prior in Nagoya. “No need to worry about local armies pestering us, then.” “That also means we have no one to defend us in case of an attack, though.” “No one to count on but ourselves, eh?” “Exactly.” Makes sense, Yahiro thought. No wonder the Galerie was on high alert, even after reaching their destination. “Where’s Karura Myoujiin?” Yahiro asked Nathan. The former Ganzheit agent had told the Galerie that she waited for them in Kyoto, but gave no exact location. Nathan’s response was simply an unabashed headshake. “I only know that she’s in Myoujiin territory somewhere in the mountains of Okusaga.” “Isn’t she your boss? Shouldn’t you know?” “All six families of the Heavenly Imperial House are cautious, but the Myoujiin are especially so. There’s a barrier around their territory preventing people from approaching it without a guide.” “They summoned us all the way here and it turns out they’re hermits?” Yahiro frowned. Nathan nodded. “She should be notified of our arrival. Someone should be coming for us soon.” “So now we gotta wait.” “She is waiting, too. Lady Karura has been waiting for you for a long time.” “Okay, but we were all the way in Kanto. Just a week is a short time, if anything.” “No, no. She’s been waiting for you ever since that day nine years ago,” he said ominously. Yahiro blinked in confusion. Obviously, nine years ago would refer to before the J-nocide. Back then, Yahiro was but an ordinary child, far removed from the powers of the Lazarus. Why would someone in Karura’s position even know about him? And yet, he couldn’t dismiss that Nathan specified nine years ago. A big event in Yahiro’s life happened that year: Sui Narusawa became his little sister. The same girl would one day become Superbia’s medium and cause the J-nocide. “Lady Giulietta! Lady Rosetta!” The train’s speakers cut off any addition to Nathan’s foreboding comments. It was Milo Aldiss, captain of the Yáo Guāng Xīng. “Milo? What’s got you so riled up?” Giuli asked to the comms monitor, her blithe voice in contrast to the captain’s. “We got a video feed from the survey drones! And a report from Squad Two scouting the area!” “Oof… Looks like we’re surrounded.” Giuli raised her eyebrows while looking at the picture on the monitor. The aerial view of the area around Kyoto Station showed a large group of armored vehicles, easily over forty. The army had to consist of over five hundred operators. “A PMC?! But whose?!” Josh Keegan, member of the PMC division of Galerie Berith’s Far East Branch, interjected with a crack in his voice. His Squad One oversaw security in the Yáo Guāng Xīng. “Captain, call the survey squad back! We can’t let those operators in the station!” “I know! Send Squad One’s reinforcements to cars four and nine! Seal off the stairs to the platform!” Milo ordered. “Wait, Milo. Stop the remote weapons system. Josh, keep your men where they are. Everyone, stand by on alert level two. Code orange.” “Princess?! Are you sure?! The Yáo Guāng Xīng is being ambushed!” Josh objected to the unbelievable order. Giuli was telling them not to take any measures against forces ten times their number that had them surrounded. The parked train would be defenseless if the enemy entered the station. It was like waiting to be executed. Yet the expression on Giuli’s face was a fed-up, wry smile. Her twin sister Rosé sighed. “They’re definitely ambushing us, but not for a fight. Consider it a hidden camera prank.” “What?” Yahiro furrowed his brow at Rosé’s uncharacteristic jest. Giuli shrugged and shook her head. “That’s HQ’s uniform.” “HQ? You mean they’re Galerie Berith, too?” “Yeah. Operators from the HQ in Europe. Our father’s men.” Giuli pointed at a corner of the screen. It showed the operators holding up riot shields—in lieu of a banner—that displayed the message, WELCOME. The troops encircling Kyoto Station received them with open arms. 3 “What in the world…?” Astonished, Yahiro stopped in his tracks after he warily stepped outside the station. Armored vehicles and nearly a hundred operators filled the ample space in front of the station that used to serve as a tourist bus stop. They held a banner welcoming the Galerie’s Far East Branch. Accompanied by a musical performance, to boot. Yahiro let go of his katana’s hilt, stupefied by the odd scene. Josh and the rest of the escorts were clearly confused, too. “Welcome, Lady Giulietta, Lady Rosetta.” One man stepped forward from the group of operators, a middle-aged man in a morning coat. Though he appeared to be over fifty years old, his bearing was graceful and youthful. His silver-gray hair was combed back, making him look like the perfect picture of a gentleman. “Huh, Cyrille?” “If you’re here, then that means his lordship is here, too?” Giuli and Rosé responded to the gentleman. They seemed to be acquaintances. Based on their demeanor, he had to be a butler for the Berith house. “I will show you to him. Please, follow me. Miss Iroha Mamana and Mr. Yahiro Narusawa as well, if you please.” He looked at them. “We can go, too?” Iroha asked with surprise. “Who did you mean by ‘his lordship’?” Yahiro asked Rosé, a bad feeling in his gut. Despite her inoffensive tone, Rosé was never truly polite with anyone. It was rare to hear her refer to someone so respectfully. “Marquis Eusebius Berith. Galerie Berith’s owner. Try not to be rude.” “Marquis Berith… Your dad?” Iroha looked at Rosé with wide eyes. Rosé nodded inexpressively. “Yes, you wouldn’t be wrong to infer that, although we aren’t his daughters biologically. We’re only about seven percent related.” “…Biologically? But you’re not adopted, are you?” “You can say that he is our real father in the sense that he created us. And indeed, we are allowed to call him so.” “Doesn’t sound like a very pleasant history.” Yahiro sighed. Yahiro had already guessed they were fabricated through genetic manipulation, going by their past words and deeds. He could tell that the relationship between the twins and their father would be complex. He couldn’t jump to the conclusion that they were unhappy with it, but it didn’t seem like they loved their father. He couldn’t help but pity them. “Do you have any right to say that?” Yahiro heard Rosé whisper. He looked at her. “Huh?” “…Nothing. Just saying it’s nothing special to be related to Ganzheit.” She smiled stiffly before following Cyrille. Iroha remained confused as Yahiro pulled her along behind the twins. The security operators watched as Cyrille escorted them to an armored motor home: one exceedingly sturdy camping trailer. A white man sat in the luxury office inside. He was tall and wore a suit. His features were so fine one would think he was an actor, and he had the elegance of a nobleman. This was the current head of the House of Berith: Eusebius Berith. “My lord, I’ve brought the Far East Branch executives,” Cyrille reported courteously as he walked to his master’s side. Eusebius put down the documents he had been reading and raised his head. He glanced at Giuli and Rosé by the entrance before looking at Yahiro and Iroha. “Thank you, Cyrille. And they are…?” “Guests, Miss Iroha Mamana and Mr. Yahiro Narusawa. Japanese survivors, sir.” “I see. The medium and the Lazarus, then. So young.” He looked them up and down with an amicable smile on his face. “I’ve heard about your feats helping my daughters.” “Oh, no, they’ve been the ones helping us!” Iroha bowed her head, unusually nervous. She pulled a square tin container out of nowhere. Cyrille scowled, suspicious that it was an explosive, but Iroha opened it cluelessly and the strong smell of butter filled the space in an instant. It was more of the kids’ cookies. “Would you like to have some? My sister baked them!” Iroha offered Eusebius the cookies with a proud smile on her face. Yahiro felt a vague sense of déjà vu. Apparently, Iroha had a personal rule of offering food to important people she met. “Thank you, they look delicious. Cyrille, get some tea.” Eusebius took a cookie and brought it to his mouth. The circumstances warranted being cautious of poison, but he must’ve felt it was ridiculous to be on such high alert in light of Iroha’s behavior. Or perhaps he was trying to build trust with Iroha. In any case, Eusebius Berith didn’t seem to be the cold, haughty aristocrat Yahiro had imagined. “Good to have you here, Giulietta, Rosetta. Are you well?” Eusebius spoke to his daughters after finishing the cookie. Giuli and Rosé remained in place with solemn looks on their faces as they nodded. “Yes.” “You seem very well yourself, my lord.” “Good. Let’s skip the formalities. It’s our first family reunion in a good while.” Eusebius smiled and urged them to sit down on the sofa. Cyrille brought enough teacups for everyone and, with refined motions, served black tea. “Now then, you’ve done well. The family is greatly satisfied with the Far East Branch’s achievements,” Eusebius said once everyone had their share of tea. “You hired the Lazarus and got the fire dragon’s medium under your wing. You captured the earth dragon’s medium and Auguste Nathan. I heard you even found a Relict Regalia Deserver. The Galerie has obtained more sway in Ganzheit thanks to you. Marvelous work, truly. Shame about Andrea, but your gains more than make up for that loss.” “We only fulfilled our duties, Father,” Giuli answered with detached tone. Eusebius shook his head with a warm smile. “Still, you deserve due recompense for your work.” “Recompense…?” Rosé’s expression stiffened in fear. The marquis nodded cheerfully at his daughter’s reaction. “The Galerie has decided to promote you. First, Rosetta, you will oversee operations in South America. I expect much of you in the weapons business as vice president.” “Vice president? Me?” “And Giulietta. You will be commissioner of the Galerie’s intelligence department. You’re rising in the ranks, ladies. Of course, you may take personnel from the Far East Branch with you. I know how important it is to have subordinates you can trust.” “Wait! Wait a minute!” Iroha stood up in objection. Yahiro also glared daggers at the marquis. “What is this? They’re leaving Japan? What about negotiations with the Heavenly Imperial House?” “Don’t worry about that. We, the Galerie’s European HQ, will take over the Far East Branch’s operations. That is why we’re here. That means there are bigger numbers to mobilize now,” Eusebius responded promptly without being disturbed by their rudeness, as smoothly as if he were following a script. “But that’s… It’s too sudden…” Iroha failed to find the words to object. Galerie Berith was a corporation; it was nothing strange for Eusebius, as its owner, to decide his employees’ jobs. Not to mention this was a promotion for the twins. Yahiro and Iroha had no right to weigh in. “That’s all. Avaritia’s medium, we will be helping you from now on. If you have any questions, please ask Cyrille,” Eusebius said, satisfied when Iroha remained silent. “My name is Cyrille Ghislain. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The silver-haired butler bowed to her. Eusebius continued with small talk afterward, but Yahiro forgot what he talked about. The twins did not say a thing in the end. 4 “Boss, we don’t have enough drinks. Bring some more over here.” “Oh, beat it. You’ve drunk enough.” Josh’s men were enjoying themselves with food and drinks under the tents placed inside Kyoto Station. Eusebius Berith was throwing a feast to welcome the Far East Branch’s operators. The battalion-size army gathered there gave the operators a sense of security and they let themselves spread their wings. HQ’s soldiers guarded the surroundings so the Far East members could drink to their hearts’ content. “Wanna drink, Yahiro?” Yahiro was watching the operators party it up from afar, when someone called his name. Squad Two’s captain, Paola Resente. “No. I’m underage.” Yahiro declined with a smile. There was no reason to follow the law now that the country of Japan was no more, but even so, he refused to drink so he could keep himself in check. No matter how small the crime, if he got used to breaking the law, he feared he would eventually feel no reserve in killing. Besides, the Lazarus had absolute resistance to poison—he wouldn’t get drunk even if he drowned in alcohol. “Good boy. Here’s your prize.” Paola gently slapped his back before offering a different bottle. Did you even hear what I said? Yahiro thought as he looked up. “I told you I’m not drinking. Are you drunk already?” “No. I’m sober.” “You look hammered, though!” “I am not. Take that back.” Paola chugged her drink and leaned on Yahiro’s shoulder. She had taken off the uniform’s bulletproof jacket and wore only a tank top and shorts. She had an exotic seductiveness to her as it was; seeing her flushed from the alcohol made her extremely alluring. Yahiro was thinking hard about how to escape this drunkard, when he spotted Wei. Wei had to be drinking, too, but the dashing young man looked fresh. He noticed Yahiro’s eyes pleading for help and chuckled before walking up to them. “Thank you, Wei. Should everyone really be getting drunk like this?” Yahiro sighed. Wei was used to drunk Paola and pulled her off Yahiro. He smiled awkwardly. “It’s our first night off in half a year. Please let them have some fun.” “Uh-huh.” “We got a huge bonus, too. Gotta thank you, Yahiro.” “I didn’t do anything.” Yahiro cocked his head. He did nothing in the meeting with Eusebius Berith. The only impact he and Iroha had was offering him her sister’s cookies. Still, Wei shook his head with a serious look on his face. “The owner didn’t tell you? Giuli and Rosé were promoted thanks to your and Iroha’s achievements. House Berith really liked you crushing Melora Electronics.” “I see…” Yahiro avoided speaking more on the topic. Galerie Berith had more sway within Ganzheit thanks to the Far East Branch’s contract with Yahiro and Iroha. Eusebius had said as much. But Yahiro couldn’t just be happy about it if it meant saying good-bye to the twins. Despite everything, Yahiro trusted them and the rest of the team. “Iroha! Look!” Yahiro heard the children’s cheery voices as he wandered around the venue after leaving Wei and Paola. Iroha’s siblings had caught her enjoying the food as she walked. “Rinka? What’s with that uniform?” Iroha’s eyes nearly popped out of her head at the sight of her sister. Rinka wore a vintage school uniform that looked like something out of an old wizard movie. She seemed to like it a lot herself; she twirled in place while beaming. The other kids were wearing the same uniform, too. “It’s the boarding school uniforms. They finally arrived,” Rosé explained, accompanying the children. “Why…are they wearing them…?” “Your contract with Galerie Berith was to secure the kids a safe life outside of Japan in exchange for your help. We delayed the completion of our contract due to the kids’ strong wishes up until now…” “…But you can’t do it any longer now that you’re leaving?” Iroha lifted her head and stared at Rosé, realizing why the twins had hurried to get them into school now. “Yes. I wouldn’t recommend expecting that to go on indefinitely.” Rosé looked down. Despite her usually blunt personality, Rosé was sweet to Iroha’s siblings. However, no one could guarantee that Cyrille would be as accommodating after he took over. Rosé was trying to get the children to safety while she was still in charge. “They’ll be going to a prestigious school in Switzerland. We’ve asked a trustworthy organization to look after them, and given them enough money for tuition and daily necessities. They should be fine.” “Yeah, I can trust you with that. But Ayaho can’t go with them, can she?” Iroha grimaced as she looked at the older girl among the children. Ayaho was the only one wearing her usual sailor uniform among her siblings in their new clothes. She wasn’t able to go to school now that she’d ended up compatible with a Relict Regalia. “No. In fact, I don’t think she should leave this country. Without the Galerie’s protection, some other army or intelligence agency would try to get hold of her.” “Yeah… You’re right…” Iroha nodded sadly and bit her lip. Then she slapped her cheeks and raised her voice to try and rouse herself. “Everyone, form a line! I’ll take your picture one by one!” “Whaa?!” “No way! How embarrassing!” “They said we were only trying them on! It doesn’t fit and my hair’s a mess!” Her siblings protested as Iroha held her phone up to snap their pictures, but that would not stop her. “No, kids. This is an order.” “Tyrant!” “Oh well.” “Whaa…? I guess if Kiri says so…” In the end, the pictures were taken even as the kids made a fuss. Then the drunk members of the Far East Branch gathered around and it turned into a group photo shoot. The contrast between the rugged operators and the innocent children was bizarre, but there was an odd sense of unity within this unlikely bunch. It had only been a couple of months, yet they’d become comrades in arms. “Any objections, Yahiro?” Rosé asked with a dubious expression as he watched the kids solemnly. Yahiro turned to look at her and replied with uncharacteristic sincerity. “Oh… No, not really. Thank you, Rosé.” “Huh?” “You’ve been a great help this whole time. Thanks a lot.” “I only fulfilled our contract… W-well, I accept your gratitude…” Rosé’s gaze wandered as she stuttered for once. Giuli popped up behind her twin as though she had been waiting for this moment. “Oh, what’s up, Rosy? You’re blushing?” “G-Giuli?! That’s not true!” Rosé denied it and cleared her throat repeatedly. The corners of Giuli’s lips rose even higher. “What were you talking about with Yahiro?” “Nothing…!” “Uh-huh…” Rosé evaded the topic for whatever reason while Giuli kept teasing her little sister. It was a sight Yahiro had grown familiar with by now. A sight he would never see again after they left Japan. Yahiro was surprised to realize that he was sad about that. 5 “Aww… Yahirooo… I’m so saaad…!” Iroha buried her face, a teary and snotty mess, in Yahiro’s chest. She’d put on a strong facade in front of her siblings, but she really had been shocked to hear she would have to say good-bye soon. “Yeah, I get you…” Yahiro dragged Iroha toward the Yáo Guāng Xīng, exhausted by her endless crying. The party at the station kept going, but he thought it’d be better not to let the kids see her like this. However, the entrance to the platform where the armored train was parked was blocked by a few armed operators. The guards noticed the pair walking their way and warned them sternly. “Stop. This place is off-limits.” “…What?” Yahiro frowned as he questioned the oddly threatening operators. They wore Galerie uniforms, but he didn’t know their faces. They had to be from HQ, brought by Eusebius Berith. “You didn’t hear? What’s your post?” “Wait. That’s the Lazarus.” Another operator stopped his buddy, who had pointed his rifle at Yahiro. “The Lazarus? But that’s just a kid…” The operator kept his finger on the trigger as he eyed Yahiro with obvious suspicion. Yahiro was used to this sort of scorning glare. “We were just thinking of going back to the Yáo Guāng Xīng. What do you mean it’s off-limits?” Yahiro forced a smile and asked with the friendliest tone he could muster. The twins hadn’t said anything of the sort. It had to be HQ’s decision. They had welcomed the Far East Branch with open arms and served them drinks while seizing the Yáo Guāng Xīng behind the scenes. Something was up. “Excuse me, Mr. Narusawa.” A silver-haired gentleman appeared from behind the operators and bowed gracefully. Eusebius’s butler, Cyrille Ghislain. “…Mr. Ghislain?” “Please, just call me Cyrille. We’re in the middle of procedures transferring operation of the Yáo Guāng Xīng from the Far East Branch to HQ. I’m afraid we can’t allow you inside, due to confidentiality concerns,” Cyrille said politely. There was nothing odd about his explanation; Yahiro was unable to say anything more. “That’s good and all, but where are we supposed to sleep?” “Apologies for not notifying you sooner. We’ve prepared a motor home for you.” “A motor home? You mean like that huge camper back there?” Yahiro remembered the armored trailer where Eusebius’s office was, confused. Surely they wouldn’t get something that luxurious, but it would be far better than the operators who were sleeping in tents. Too good even then—what was the catch? “Indeed. This is the key. And a copy for Miss Mamana.” “Okay… Thanks.” Yahiro gave up any further resistance and accepted the key cards. He had no reason to complain about good hospitality, after all. “We’ll have someone show you the way. Have a good night’s rest,” Cyrille said with a perfect smile. A female operator approached them and then led the way to the trailer. The operators blocking the way to the platform did not lower their guard until Yahiro was well out of sight. “Car nineteen… Here it is.” Yahiro sighed in awe at the size of the armored trailer marked with that number. It was far bigger than he had expected. “This thing’s huge! It’s freaking gigantic! This isn’t a car! That’s a whole house!” Iroha’s sobs were replaced by a dropped jaw. Her reaction was not overexaggerated. If it didn’t have any wheels, one would think it was a luxury apartment showroom. “This is the motor home House Berith uses for its guests. Milord says to please enjoy it,” the guide said courteously. “I mean, thanks, but should we really be in such a fancy place?” Yahiro asked with an uncomfortable expression. Things like this were normally reserved for Hollywood stars or F1 drivers on world tours. It was far beyond Yahiro and Iroha’s status. “No need to hesitate. Members of the House use cars of even greater dignity.” “You’re telling me there’s something fancier…?” Yahiro gaped, beyond stupefied by the smiling operator’s comment. Rich people’s spending habits were beyond his comprehension. It was better not to think too much about it. “Okay, got that, but why only Yahiro and me? Can I get my siblings in here?” Iroha asked while rubbing her swollen eyes. Sure enough, this motor home was big enough to shelter all the kids and then some. However, the operator shook her head with that cold, practiced smile still on her face. “I apologize, but we ask you not to bring in anyone else, for security reasons.” “Security? You don’t need to protect us anyway. We have Nuemaru with us…” “No, Iroha.” Yahiro stopped her from insisting. Then with a cynical tone he continued, “We’re the ones they’re keeping an eye on. Right?” “HQ’s operators are still not used to handling the dragon mediums and the Lazaruses, not to mention we have the head of the House in camp here. Please understand.” The woman confirmed Yahiro’s suspicions. House Berith thought of the dragon medium and the Lazarus with their Regalia as a threat. They had to isolate Yahiro and Iroha and keep them under surveillance. The luxury motor home was compensation for that—an opulent cage. “I see… I guess that makes sense.” Iroha puffed out her cheeks in a pout and reluctantly resigned herself. “That’s why they’re giving us this nice camper in return, I guess.” Yahiro sighed as he opened the door with the key card. Bright light fixtures reminiscent of chandeliers illuminated the room. An antique-style table and spacious sofa. A mirrored ceiling and marble floor. It was almost impossibly luxurious, like a suite in a five-star hotel. “Yup, this is reeeally nice. Aww… I could make a cool video about this if I still had my account…” Iroha’s voice shook as she gripped her phone tight. She hadn’t been able to get her account reinstated after the mystery ban. It was a most stressful situation for the content junkie. Still, she took pictures of every corner of the car and squealed at the sight of the novel furniture. “Whoa, look at the size of this TV! And the kitchen’s squeaky clean! And there’s a bath!” “…Why does the bathroom have glass walls…?” Yahiro felt a headache coming on when he noticed the shower room across the living room. They could see right through the walls of the circular shower. The guide operator answered most seriously, “Those were the demands.” “What demands?!” “The bedroom is there in the back.” “The bedroom? Only one?” “Don’t worry. We’ve prepared a big enough bed,” she said as she opened the door to the bedroom. Yahiro’s expression twisted in distress at the sight of the pastel-colored room. The bed had two pillows next to each other and, with extreme consideration that nobody asked for, even a see-through babydoll nightgown. Not even honeymoon bedrooms were this blunt. “The size isn’t the problem here…” “And, Mr. Narusawa, please don’t forget these.” “These what?” Yahiro accepted the little box the guide handed him and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Condoms. “Wa-wa-wait!” “My job here is done. Please enjoy yourselves.” “Enjoy ourselves how?!” The woman ignored Yahiro’s shout and darted away. Yahiro fell to his knees, box in hand. “What’d they give you? Nothing for me?” Iroha asked innocently after finishing her photo session. Yahiro hid the box in his pocket in a hurry. “Oh, no… Nothing. You don’t need to know!” “Why?! Show me! Now it’s gonna bother me all night!” “For pity’s… Screw this. Iroha, you take the bed. I’ll sleep on the couch,” said Yahiro, his voice cracking in outrage. Iroha looked at him with confusion and tilted her head. “Why? There’s enough space for both of us.” “No, there isn’t!” “What, you toss and turn a lot or something? Oh, right. There should be enough space for Nuemaru, too, yeah?” “Do what you want.” “Okay. Wait, but where did he go?” Iroha looked around in search of the white Moujuu that always followed her around. Then the motor-home door opened and someone entered. Yahiro expected the guide to be back again, but it was someone much smaller—a girl holding a dog-sized Moujuu in her arms. “Runa?” “Huh? Why are you here all alone? What about the guards?” Iroha asked in surprise. Iroha’s youngest sister, Runa Senou, looked up at them and quietly shook her head. “You have a guest.” “…A guest?” Yahiro’s brow furrowed. Runa handed over the Moujuu. Yahiro’s and Iroha’s expressions froze as they realized it was not Nuemaru. Runa’s pure-white guard sat by her feet. The one in the girl’s arms was a similar size, but an entirely different creature. Nuemaru resembled a fox or a wolf, while this one was more like a tanuki. Its fur was a lustrous black. “Th-there’s two Nuemarus?!” Iroha eyes darted back and forth between the two. “Where did you get that Moujuu?” Yahiro crouched down to Runa’s level. There was no way Nuemaru could have multiplied, but it was equally unbelievable that this little Moujuu could’ve snuck into the Galerie HQ’s camp alone. Discarding the possibility of coincidence, was it intentional? The black Moujuu shot Yahiro an intelligent stare, basically proving his suspicion. Then, it spoke: “Heh. So we’ve finally met.” “Wha…?!” Yahiro gasped. The black Moujuu narrowed its golden eyes and stared at the shocked boy with amusement. “The Moujuu…spoke?!” Iroha’s voice went up one octave.