In the previous chapter, I forgot to correct Kaya's name from Sasha...
I'm tired, these chapters are way too long... Bear with me
***
"A very wise decision, Seitenshi-sama," Mahiro replied with a slight, knowing smile.
Truth be told, he couldn't care less about the official IP ranking. The information he truly needed, he had already… acquired through other means long ago. Even the most classified documents weren't safe from his decryption protocols. And as for public glory and false fame? They were more of a nuisance than anything else. If anything, the Seitenshi's decision to suppress the full story would save him a mountain of tedious social obligations and prying questions.
"I'm glad you think so," she said, her voice softening once more into a confidential tone. "But, Mahiro-kun, please do not leave the Holy Residence immediately after the banquet concludes. There is… something I wish to discuss with you in private."
Hearing her whispered request, Mahiro looked at her with a flicker of surprise, but simply nodded in acknowledgment.
With that, the Seitenshi gracefully stepped forward and announced to the assembled guests that the Tokyo Area's grand celebration banquet would now commence. His role in the formal ceremony was officially, and thankfully, over.
Freed from the spotlight, he made his way downstairs, procuring a wine glass and casually partaking of the lavish spread of food and drink. In a more just world, he shouldn't have been the only representative from the agency here. Satomi Rentaro, his fellow colleague, was certainly qualified to attend, but the poor guy was still playing mummy back in his hospital bed. It would be at least a month before he was going anywhere.
As for the other key participant, Senju Kayo… well, aside from her innate dislike for stuffy, formal gatherings, she was also swamped with the mountain of administrative tasks he, the notoriously hands-off boss, had unceremoniously dumped on her. That's right, Sasha had officially joined Arcadia, alongside the other Cursed Children who had been rescued and revived in the aftermath of the great battle. For him, it was a simple matter of tracing their information bodies and enduring the echoes of their painful lives—a small price to pay. He found himself surprisingly enthusiastic about saving these children.
Of course, that charitable sentiment did not extend to the girl codenamed Hummingbird; he wasn't naive or kind enough to extend salvation to his sworn enemies. Fortunately, joining Arcadia was entirely voluntary, and on that point, not a single child had refused. After all, even in their isolated lives, they had all heard the whispers and rumors about this supposed utopia for their kind.
And the final member of their little agency family, President Tendou Kisara? Where was she? Currently, she was feasting with a focused, almost terrifying intensity, as if she hadn't seen a decent meal in weeks…
"Nee, President Kisara," Mahiro began, sidling up to her. "If I recall correctly, you stated that this ceremony was being held by cutting into the Seitenshi's incredibly valuable administrative time. You told me to speak less and end it quickly to be respectful… But looking at this spread and the crowd mingling, it seems that's not quite the case, is it?" He leaned in slightly, a teasing glint in his eye. "You just wanted to get to the buffet, didn't you?"
She was already filthy rich! Why did she act like this? Was this the true, gluttonous nature hidden beneath the proud facade of Tendou Kisara?
"B-Baka! How is that possible?!" Kisara's head snapped up, a piece of cake still visible on her lip as she launched into a flustered explanation. "I am considering the Seitenshi's reputation and schedule!"
"Hai, hai, hai," he conceded, his tone dripping with playful sarcasm. "But could you please swallow what's in your mouth before you speak? And look at you, you've got food all over your face." He let out an exasperated sigh, as if dealing with a messy child. He reached out with his thumb and gently wiped a smudge of whipped cream from the corner of her lips.
Then, in a casual motion that defied all social convention, he popped his thumb into his own mouth.
Kisara witnessed this scene…
Pshhhhh—!
It was as if a steam whistle had gone off in her head. Her face instantly flushed a brilliant, catastrophic scarlet.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma-Mahiro-kun! You-you-you-you… I-I-I-I-I…" she stammered, her brain having completely short-circuited. If they weren't in the middle of a high-society banquet, she would likely be flailing her arms in a full-blown, panicked meltdown.
"What about me?" Mahiro asked, genuinely puzzled by her reaction. "What was I supposed to do? Just leave the cream on your face? Wipe it on my expensive suit? Or maybe smear it on the pristine linen of the dining table?" He laid out the options with flawless, infuriating logic.
"But you can't just put it in your mouth!" she wanted to shriek, her face burning. "That was… that was from my mouth… it's indirect…!" But before she could fully form the protest, her expression instantly shifted. The blush receded, replaced by a sharp, cold seriousness. Her gaze hardened, focusing with laser intensity on a point behind him.
Turning to look, he saw Kikunojō Tendo standing near the Seitenshi, who was still gracefully entertaining a cluster of important guests. The hatred burning in Kisara's eyes was palpable, a physical heat. The silver fork in her hand was unconsciously bending under the pressure of her grip.
What terrifying, rage-induced strength.
"Oy, you don't need to get that worked up right now, do you?" Mahiro said, giving her shoulder a light, grounding pat that jolted her out of her murderous reverie. "Didn't you successfully make that old man suffer a significant loss this time around?"
She stared at him with complex, turbulent eyes, then closed them and shook her head slowly.
"No. Minister Hata, who was offered up this time, and the others on the joint petition… they were just scapegoats. Pawns. Moreover, this kind of political skirmish cannot fundamentally harm the Tendo Family's foundation."
Kikunojō Tendo had his subordinates retrieve the Seven Stars Legacy from the uncharted territory and had tacitly allowed Hiruko Kagetane to proceed with summoning a Stage Five Zodiac. The goal was to reignite public terror of the Gastrea and promote his "Household Registration Deprivation Act," thereby crushing the "Gastrea New Law" proposed by the Seitenshi. The plan was monstrously abstract and would have resulted in the Great Extinction of the Tokyo Area, but the underlying motive was clear. That old man, much like Tendou Kisara herself, was a creature of vengeance—they just had different targets.
Even though the plan was derailed by unforeseen variables (namely, him) and nearly backfired catastrophically, Kikunojō Tendo's response was ruthlessly efficient: he simply sacrificed his pre-prepared pawns, severing all connections cleanly. Most of those individuals had conveniently committed suicide on the day of their arrest.
"So, I need more," Kisara whispered, her voice low and determined. "I need irrefutable evidence. A weapon that can completely shatter the Tendo Family's power structure."
"Is that so?" Mahiro mused, taking a sip of his wine. "Well, if that's the case, I do have a suggestion. You might want to start your investigation from the direction of the Monoliths."
"Nani? What do you mean?" Kisara looked at him, genuinely puzzled.
"Didn't you find the entire sequence of events… anomalous?" he prompted, his voice dropping. "A single Stage I Gastrea suddenly appears, attacks the convoy escorting the Legacy, and swallows the case. Then, under pursuit by Hiruko Kagetane, this mere Stage I somehow manages to escape into the Tokyo Area." He let the implication hang in the air for a moment. "Normally, the suppression field emitted by the Varanium Monoliths is fatal to Gastrea. So how did a lowly Stage I get through? Doesn't that strike you as… a little fishy?"
Hearing his words, Kisara's face cycled from contemplative silence to dawning surprise, her eyes widening as if she had just connected the dots on something truly terrifying.
"Mahiro-kun, you mean… the Monoliths were…?"
"Just keep it in mind. It's only a hypothesis for now," he said, cutting her off with a casual wave of his hand. He then turned his attention back to the banquet table, resuming his eating and drinking as if he'd merely commented on the weather.
Kisara was brilliant; the slightest hint was all she needed to identify a critical blind spot. And her execution ability was formidable, as evidenced by how quickly she'd gathered intelligence during the Scorpio crisis. Sure, she probably had help from behind the scenes—perhaps from a certain sharp-tongued doctor—but that was irrelevant. Wasn't it profoundly entertaining to watch one avenging ghost meticulously orchestrate a grand revenge play against another?
....
By the time the lavish banquet finally drew to a close, the sun had long since set, painting the sky in deep hues of violet and indigo. After sending a quick message, Mahiro watched as Kisara, citing agency business, took her leave. He was now the sole remaining guest from their party within the Holy Residence's hallowed halls. Following a silent, bowing maid, he was led not to an office or a receiving room, but to the Seitenshi's private bedchamber.
The entrance to her personal quarters felt like a sacred, inviolable sanctuary. Notably, besides the attending maid, there wasn't a single guard posted at the door—a profound testament to the absolute trust placed in him, or perhaps in the sanctity of the space itself.
"It has been a while, Mahiro-kun. You are very punctual," a soft voice greeted him.
Inside the serene room, the Seitenshi was seated gracefully on the edge of her bed. She adjusted her posture, the pure white fabric of her dress pooling around her, and offered him a gentle smile, her silk-gloved hands resting elegantly in her lap.
Mahiro, in stark contrast to the formality of the setting, casually pulled up a nearby chair and sat down opposite her, a strangely amused expression on his face.
"A while? We literally just said goodbye downstairs ten minutes ago."
"No. I meant meeting here," she clarified, her smile unwavering.
"If you put it that way, then I suppose you're right."
With the exception of their very first contract, nearly every single "designated commission" afterward had been issued within the privacy of the Seitenshi's bedroom. Kisara had been aware of this unique arrangement for some time, which was precisely why she had chosen not to linger. His unusually close rapport with the ruler of the Tokyo Area was forged in the fires of the past year. Shortly after she completed her first year of reign, her rising influence and reformist policies made her a target, resulting in numerous assassination attempts—each one thwarted by him. It was this relentless, unseen protection that had catapulted his IP ranking at a seemingly impossible speed. In turn, the Seitenshi, secured by his blade, had managed to consolidate her power and gain a firm foothold against the various political factions vying for control.
"Yare yare… Enough of this boring small talk," Mahiro waved a hand dismissively. "Why don't you just tell me the real reason you kept me behind. It's getting late, and I'm feeling a bit peckish again…" He leaned forward slightly, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Could it be… the Seitenshi requires my… personal services for the evening?"
"Mahiro-kun, you still enjoy your jokes as much as ever," the Seitenshi replied, completely unflustered. She didn't show a hint of shame or anger. Instead, she raised a silk-gloved hand to cover her mouth as she let out a soft, melodic laugh. "You ate a considerable amount at the banquet just now."
"You're not denying the 'services' part? Fufu~ Well, the esteemed Seitenshi-sama is already 16 years old, so I can understand certain… biological needs. But!" He held up a finger, his expression turning mock-serious. "I must warn you, my fees for such… specialized services are extremely high."
"Mahiro-kun, just what are you implying?" The Seitenshi's smile remained, a captivating and powerful tool she wielded with perfection, effortlessly deflecting his provocative teasing.
While many among the nobility dismissed her as a mere 16-year-old puppet or a beautiful vase, there was no doubt that this particular vase possessed a formidable core of steel and wit.
"….Alright, alright. Joking aside." Mahiro let his playful smirk fade, his demeanor shifting to something more direct and businesslike. "It really is getting late. Let's talk business, shall we? Judging by your expression, this is about another commission, right?"
"Hai," the Seitenshi affirmed, her own expression shifting to one of grave seriousness. She nodded. "Mahiro-kun, the day after tomorrow, the representative from the Osaka Area, President Sōgen Saitake, will be paying an unofficial visit to the Tokyo Area."
"And?" Mahiro prompted, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"Also, tonight, Kikunojō Tendo will be departing by air for a 'goodwill visit' to another region. He will not be present in the Tokyo Area during President Sōgen's stay."
"So?" Mahiro's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you planning to commission me to assassinate that old fox Kikunojō Tendo while he's away, to help you seize complete control of the Tokyo Area? Or…" his voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, "…are you asking me to help you eliminate Sōgen Saitake? If it's that kind of job, I'll take it." He stated it without a moment's hesitation, as if discussing the weather. "Of course, the price would naturally be quite high. Let's say… ten million yen per head."
He said this not only because he was genuinely willing to accept such a dark contract, but also because of the room's peculiar atmosphere. Besides being decorated entirely in the Seitenshi's signature white, the large chamber was illuminated primarily by a grand, flickering candelabra. In such dim, intimate lighting, his mind only associated two things: clandestine lovers' trysts… or plots of assassination.
"Please, do not make such… vile jokes." The Seitenshi's brows furrowed slightly, a clear sign that she found this far more distasteful and unacceptable than the earlier innuendo.
"I am well aware of the irreconcilable hatred between Kikunojō Tendo and President Kisara," she continued, her voice firm. "And I know some of the actions he has taken behind my back have been… unconscionable. But in his own twisted way, he believes he acts for the stability and benefit of the Tokyo Area. Furthermore, if President Sōgen were to die on our soil, his successor—the current Vice-President of the Osaka Area—would undoubtedly assume power and immediately declare the Tokyo Area an enemy. It could very well lead to open war."
"So, your answer is 'no'?" Mahiro summarized.
"That is beyond any doubt," she stated unequivocally.
"Hai, hai… Alright then." Seeing the Seitenshi's rare, stern demeanor, Mahiro shrugged in feigned defeat. "If you refuse, you refuse."
"Please, do not make such jokes again in the future," she insisted, a faint note of genuine hurt in her voice. "They are too nasty. Even I… will get angry."
Having reasserted her boundary, the Seitenshi took a moment to compose herself, smoothing the front of her dress before clasping her hands neatly in her lap once more.
"But seriously, Your Highness," Mahiro said, a trace of genuine curiosity in his tone, "you do realize you just passed up a golden opportunity to consolidate your rule over the Tokyo Area completely."
"Do you wish to continue down this path of discussion?" she asked, her voice dangerously calm.
"…I'll be quiet. You talk." Sensing he had genuinely pressed too far, Mahiro wisely conceded, making a flippant "after you" gesture with his hand.
"Very well. Then it is my turn to speak." His acquiescence seemed to satisfy her. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips—a strange, indescribable flicker of joy that he was finally willing to listen. "The primary request this time is for you to accompany me during the talks with President Sōgen. To act as my personal bodyguard, and to provide your… unique form of support by my side."
"?"
Mahiro slowly tilted his head, a visible question mark seeming to hang in the air. "You want me to play bodyguard again? I had a feeling, but I still have to ask… that old man Kikunojō Tendo surely assigned you a full security detail, didn't he? What you need for a meeting with Chiwo Sōun is someone who can play political games, and I am decidedly not that guy."
This time, he was genuinely reluctant to take on another protection detail. He was acutely aware that the master sniper Tina Sprout would be lurking in the shadows, but neutralizing her from a distance would be a simple, discreet task. The Seitenshi's safety could be assured without him being physically tethered to her side like a common guard. More importantly, Arcadia, his sanctuary for the Cursed Children, was entering its final, most critical phase of development. Most of the Cursed Children within the Tokyo Area had already been gathered, and operations were slowly expanding to other regions. He had plans to travel abroad himself to retrieve more children from foreign oppression. Accepting this commission would effectively chain him here, halting all progress.
"You are correct, Mahiro-san," the Seitenshi conceded, her voice soft in the quiet room. "More than a simple bodyguard, I might indeed need a political counterweight to President Chiwo. And you are right, Kikunojō Tendo did assign me a personal guard. However…" she hesitated, the words delicate, "…that person's intentions are… impure."
In the dim chamber, illuminated only by the dancing candlelight, her confession felt heavier. A cool night breeze slipped through the slightly ajar window, causing the silk curtains to sway gently and the flames on the three-pronged candelabra to flicker, making the light in the room waver between brightness and shadow.
And in that unstable, faint light, he saw it—for the first time, a barely perceptible flicker of disgust and profound inner conflict on the Seitenshi's normally serene and fair face.
She slowly rose from the edge of her bed, her movements graceful yet burdened. She walked to the window, reaching out with slender, pale fingertips to close it, shutting out the night. She gazed up at the tapestry of stars glittering in the dark sky and began to speak, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Mahiro-san, as a top-ranked Promoter, you must be acutely aware. In the very near future, the world's most elite Initiators and Promoters will descend upon this land under the banners of various governments. Their mission will be assassination and sabotage, all for the sake of the most crucial resource in this ruined world—Varanium."
She turned to face him, her eyes solemn.
"And this land we stand upon, the Tokyo Area, blessed with the presence of Mount Fuji… its Varanium output is so prodigious it accounts for nearly half of the entire archipelago's supply."
"…So," she continued, her voice dropping even further, "I do not know on which day I might fall to an assassin's blade. If not for your protection this past year, I would have likely shared the same fate as my mother long ago." She paused, a painful weight behind her words. "And now… my body is capable of bearing children. The attendants of the Holy Residence constantly press me to produce an heir as soon as possible, to secure the lineage. So—"
"—So," Mahiro interjected, his voice calm and unnervingly direct, "the person that old man arranged for you is not merely a bodyguard. He is also a candidate… a partner to help you bear a child and continue the sacred bloodline of the Holy Residence. Is that it?"
The Seitenshi placed her hands gently against her flat stomach. Though she smiled, it was a heartbreaking expression, filled with a deep, resonant sadness. She shook her head slowly.
"I cannot claim to know the full depth of Kikunojō Tendo's intentions. But that man… he undoubtedly harbors such designs. And I… I do not like it. Not at all."
"Then," Mahiro countered, his gaze sharp and analytical, "aren't you afraid that I might also harbor such intentions?"
"You would not." The Seitenshi's reply was immediate, her gaze profound and certain as it met his. "Mahiro-san, I know you enjoy all manner of jokes and provocations. But at your core, you are a kind person. You do not fear authority, nor do you crave political power for yourself… Moreover," she added, her voice softening almost to a whisper, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, "if the person I were to have a child with… were you… I might even be able to accept it."
She was serious.
Her gaze held a conviction that transcended the flickering shadows. Though there was a hint of uncertainty in her final words, a maidenly shyness, the underlying resolve in her tone was unmistakable.
Mahiro's lips tightened slightly, his expression turning contemplative.
In that moment, he finally understood the source of his peculiar fascination with the Seitenshi. It wasn't merely her high and noble status, that saint-like purity that made him want to see it marked by his own colors. It was also a powerful, aching sense of déjà vu. She reminded him of Saegusa Mayumi, or rather, of all the children born into powerful families like the Ten Master Clans, the Eighteen Assistant Houses, and the Hundred Families. They, too, had no right to choose their own paths in love or marriage. Their lives were dictated by duty and bloodline. And so, they settled, trying to choose, from their limited options, someone they didn't actively dislike to continue their lineage.
A familiar, cold anger stirred within him.
"Alright," he said, his voice losing its playful edge and becoming flat and decisive. "In that case, I accept this commission."
"Hontō ni?" A spark of hope and relief lit up her eyes.
"Of course," he confirmed, a faint, wry smile returning to his lips. "Whether it's playing bodyguard… or the other, more personal duty of ensuring the Holy Residence has an heir… I accept it all."
"As expected of you, Mahiro-san, to still make such jokes even in this situation." A genuine, relieved smile finally broke through the Seitenshi's sadness, dispelling the heavy atmosphere.
However, Yotsuba Mahiro shook his head slowly.
"No," he stated, his voice low and utterly serious, his eyes holding hers without a trace of humor. "This time, I am not joking."
...
That being said, he didn't actually do anything to the Seitenshi that night.Instead, he was led by a maid to a separate, lavish guest room within the Holy Residence to sleep.
The next morning, under the Seitenshi's formal introduction, he met the security team Kikunojō Tendo had left for her protection. It was a small squad led by a man named Yasuwaki Takuto.
The encounter was unpleasant from the very start. Just as the Seitenshi had described with such disgust, the man was instantly repulsive. His face was fixed in a plastic, insincere smile, and his eyes held a naked greed that already treated the Seitenshi as his rightful property. More pointedly, Mahiro could sense a barely veiled, cold killing intent directed specifically at him.
That last point alone sealed the man's fate in Mahiro's mind.
Sure enough, after the Seitenshi departed to attend to her morning duties, as Mahiro was simply heading out to find breakfast, Yasuwaki Takuto and his two lackeys intercepted him, cornering him and forcefully guiding him into a secluded restroom.
"Yotsuba Mahiro, right?" Hōjō sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "The one who supposedly took down the Zodiac Scorpio? You just used some underhanded trick, some secret weapon! If I had access to that kind of gear, I could have done it too!"
He took a threatening step closer, his expression turning ugly.
"Listen up, you brat. Lord Tendo personally entrusted the Seitenshi's safety to me. So you keep your distance from her! You are not to participate in this security detail. If I see you near her again…" he cracked his knuckles, "…I'll break every one of your limbs! Wakarimasu ka?!"
The speech was so cliché it was almost nostalgic. The method, even more so, reminded him of his school days—this was exactly how bullies liked to operate, cornering their targets in the bathroom to intimidate them.
Just like now.
Thinking this, Yotsuba Mahiro couldn't help but let out a long, weary sigh. He looked at Yasuwaki Takuto with something akin to pity.
"Yare yare… Isn't being alive good enough?" he mused aloud, his voice laced with a profound and genuine boredom. "Life is already so tragically short… and yet, you still insist on taking a shortcut to the grave."