Thoma stayed with me until the sun went down.
Then he walked me to the door of my new house, said a quick goodbye as if he had something to attend to, and left. I stood in front of the house he helped me buy and watched his figure disappear.
Thoma was, after all, part of the Yashiro Commission.
I held Kettle, stroking her fur.
"Kettle, how about traveling with me when you get the chance?"
I had a strong intuition that this simulation would last for many years, until my soul grew old, and then I would wake up again at the end of my natural life, enter the cycle, and continue to the next simulation.
"System, does this simulation really have an end?"
［--- Insufficient permissions. No comment］
"Really, too heartless."
Kettle was lulled into drowsiness by my petting, her golden eyes half-closed, her curly tail brushing against my hand.
---
Miya Ryuguu was not a weak person.
Thoma had realized this during their second meeting. The petite girl wielded a heavy Debate Club, her face dark with anger, yet she chose to turn and leave after just a few words, exposing her back—a naive move.
Even though he noticed the Vision on the girl's back never dimmed, and her sharp weapon never loosened in her grip.
Thoma still found her naive.
Miya Ryuguu clearly had a self-taught feel to her, whether in combat or social interactions. It was as if she had been completely disconnected from the outside world for many years before suddenly picking up a weapon and starting to fight. Plus, there were those strange rumors about a spirit following her.
Miya Ryuguu, muttering to herself while fighting alone on the road?
Very strange.
She had indeed been missing for nine years.
But she couldn't not be Miya Ryuguu.
Those green eyes, bright with anger, were exactly like Aunt Minella's.
"Thoma—"
Kamisato Ayato's voice interrupted Thoma's thoughts. He suddenly realized he had been lost in contemplation for some time. Being reminded by the one he served was a failure as a housekeeper.
"Apologies, Lord Kamisato—"
The young clan head with light blue hair raised a hand to stop him. "Rarely have free time. How about a game of chess, Thoma?"
The head of the Kamisato clan was not as dangerous or aggressive as his methods suggested. He appeared handsome and gentle, even possessing features one could describe as delicate. His eyes were always slightly curved, sometimes filled with laughter, other times deep like still water.
But anyone who had witnessed Kamisato Ayato's methods and swordsmanship would never dare underestimate him.
However, the desk after finishing work was as messy as usual, with used brushes and ink nearly pushed off by documents.
Kamisato Ayato was in rare high spirits.
Thoma couldn't dampen his lord's mood, so he sat opposite the chess table.
"Thoma, been busy with something lately? You seem distracted."
The clan head placed a piece without looking up, as if absorbed in the game. "Both Ayaka and I are a bit concerned."
"Concerned" might be an overstatement. From the moment Miya Ryuguu appeared in Inazuma City, the Shuumatsuban had informed Kamisato Ayato of her presence.
The Ryuguu family had long declined, with both servants and members scattered. Although Enji Ryuguu was recorded in the family registry, Minella and Miya Ryuguu were not. This mother and daughter were never acknowledged.
If not for Thoma, Kamisato Ayato likely wouldn't have paid much attention to the long-missing Miya Ryuguu. The Ryuguu family left before the Kamisato clan's upheaval, involved in no conspiracies and possessing no significant influence. After Enji Ryuguu left, they quietly withered away like a tree.
Thoma came searching for family but remained loyal to the Kamisato clan. Kamisato Ayato had long trusted him like family, so using the Kamisato resources to help him find his missing relatives was only natural.
Thoma opened his mouth, seeming unsure where to start.
"--Miya looks very much like her mother. Those eyes made me recognize her immediately." Thoma's turn. He sounded both helpless and relieved. "But I don't really know how to interact with her—even though I know she's my cousin, my family—but--"
"Never thought Thoma would have social troubles." Kamisato Ayato laughed.
Thoma made a face in protest.
"But that's Miya..." And both times they met, she seemed to have emotional breakdowns because of him, crying terribly. Thinking of the harmonious relationship between the Kamisato siblings, Thoma's admiration for his lord grew even deeper.
As expected of Lord Kamisato.
Kamisato Ayato's teasing was one of his quirks, harmless. His water-blue eyes scanned the board. Unconsciously, this game was about to end—
"Since you are family, Miss Ryuguu likely won't mind. Especially since it's you, Thoma."
The housekeeper looked up, confused.
Kamisato Ayato slightly narrowed his smiling eyes, placing the final piece.
"Checkmate."
---
"As expected of Miss Ryuguu!"
Gong clapped his hands together, delighted at the enormous piles of wood I had stacked outside the city. I had separated berries, mint, and violetgrass into three categories, over a dozen large sacks piled nearby. The young man's eyes sparkled as he checked the quantities.
"Took a bit longer," I said. "Thought it would take three days, but transportation became a problem. Had to make multiple trips."
［You used your inventory. Only made five trips］
［Your current strength level is enough to carry a Ruin Grader between Ritou and Tatarasuna］
"Shut up," I muttered through gritted teeth.
Gong looked at me puzzled, and I quickly waved my hand. "Nothing, nothing. Just the spirit following me."
Then I watched his face turn from red to white, pale as a painter's palette. "So the rumors are true! A spirit really follows you! Shouldn't you go to the Grand Narukami Shrine and ask Lady Yae to—"
I rushed forward and covered his mouth.
"Just a joke," I said, staring intently. "Understand? It. Is. A. Joke."
He nodded stiffly.
Meeting Yae Miko would really make me wonder if I could remain human. As far as I knew, the two most cunning people in Inazuma were Kamisato Ayato and Yae Miko. And now I had a Kamisato housekeeper as a cousin. If I got involved with the Grand Narukami Shrine, I'd probably have to leave Inazuma altogether.
I prayed fiercely in my heart for the Grand Narukami Shrine, the Yashiro Commission, Sangonomiya, and the Fatui to all stay away from me.
"So, Miss Ryuguu..." Gong said with a complicated expression, putting away the verified task list and handing me a check. "This is a exchange check for 500,000 Mora. You can collect it from Miss Katheryne anytime."
I took the check. "Any other commissions you need me to do?"
"Wow, Miss Ryuguu, aren't you going to rest?" he asked incredulously.
I said seriously, "Mora is my life, my god."
［Tianquan Ningguang agrees］ the System said.
You shut up.
Seeing my determination, Gong pulled out the task list again, flipping a few pages. "Miss Ryuguu, perhaps you could assist other adventurers with the wandering Ruin Machines. Based on level, one core is 10,000 Mora. For something like a Ruin Grader, it's 50,000 Mora per core."
"Location is in the Yashiori Island."
Wow, really far. I thought, holding the check. But 10,000 Mora per core sounds really tempting.
［Ruin Graders are Level 40. Other Ruin Machines are Level 25-30. I advise against it］
"Then forget it. I'm not strong enough yet."
Gong pouted. "Miss Ryuguu, you've been non-stop taking commissions since becoming a rookie. No matter how much you need money, you need to learn to rest."
Now he was lecturing me too.
I apologetically patted his head. "Just call me Miya."
Gong stared, very confused. "How old are you, Miss Miya?"
"16."
"But I'm 18," he said, even more puzzled. "Why do I seem younger?"
Boys shouldn't casually say they're small.
---
Apart from the first two times with Thoma, I hadn't really explored Inazuma City, which I'd visited countless times in the game. The sky filled with pink cherry blossoms was extremely romantic, perfect for losing oneself in—
I left Kettle to guard the house. I'd need to buy more meat later to appease her.
Oh wow, they even have light novels and doujinshi.
I could even see a few standees of Miss Hina. Had to say, it made me want to call her "waifu."
"Maybe I should write a letter to Miss Hina too."
［---］
The System probably didn't want to deal with me.
I stood by a small book stall, carefully examining the stack of various doujinshi.
There was a gender-swapped fox priestess and the Raiden Shogun, Sangonomiya and her dog, a love triangle between Yae, the Raiden Shogun, and Sangonomiya, and a loyal tengu falling in love with the Shogun—all with covers featuring ambiguous art, accompanied by fully bloomed roses and lilies—
Was this allowed to be displayed?
My eyes widened in shock, my gaze shifting.
"The Kamisato Clan's Beautiful Housekeeper"
"The Two-Faced BDSM Clan Head"
"The Clan Head Falls in Love With Me"
"The Honorary Knight's Harem Route"
I was stunned, trembling as I picked up "The Beautiful Housekeeper," gently opening it, then letting go as if struck by lightning. The outrageously out-of-character ukiyo-e style alluring lines that definitely wouldn't appear on someone made me cringe so hard I could dig out Mother Earth with my toes.
How could I forget that real-life Japan's ukiyo-e included erotic art!
The System in my head emitted a frightened buzzing static noise, glitching.
Holy crap! Explosive!
"These days in Inazuma, can this kind of stuff really be openly enjoyed?"
Ah!