「 Now then, is that all for the stubborn old man"s story? 」Kyouko-san speaks up after listening to my conversation with Jii-chan.
「 Well, if you ask me, you should only take half of the old man"s advice 」
Kyouko-san snorts.
「 People who live in the upper cla.s.s use their arrogant reasoning to talk about how the world works. I won"t say that it"s all wrong, but don"t accept it without questioning either 」
Yeah.
Jii-chan belongs to n.o.bility.
Furthermore, he"s the head of Kouzuki house, someone with ties to n.o.bility throughout history.
「 From my perspective, the girls are caged in a zoo. They seem to have no problems in their life, but they"re not free. Don"t you think it"s the worst to have someone order you for your whole life, like “You"ll marry this man and give birth to an offspring” 」
Yeah, Kyouko-san"s opinion is correct too, but…
「 I wonder how far men will look down on women until they"re satisfied? 」
That opinion of her is reasonable, but…
「 Unfortunately, we"re also a part of the livestock 」
Jii-chan said.
「 It"s not that men are free, and women have their lives decided by men. Those born in n.o.bility always come with the inconvenience. Men aren"t differentiated from women 」
Right, men can"t just marry out of love either.
Especially for the head of the household.
He has both the a.s.sets and authority. He has to consider not just his family but also the other houses as well.
「 Even I didn"t marry the woman I wanted 」
Jii-chan loved Ruriko"s grandmother.
Yet, Jii-chan couldn"t marry anyone other than what the family picked for him.
「 Who cares about men. You can get married and cheat all you want. I mean, you played a lot, didn"t you? 」
Kyouko-san said.
「 Indeed. You"re right 」
Jii-chan smiles wryly.
「 But, you talked about how it"s only women who are blamed for adultery, but, in modern j.a.pan, it just changed to instant divorce when the woman cheats, right? The husband can talk about how he goes to clubs and have s.e.x while keeping it a secret from his wife. Still, if the wife goes to a club, and had s.e.x with a young man, the parents, siblings, relatives, friends, acquaintances, and even business a.s.sociates say “divorce that wife right away,” don"t they? 」
Well, that"s probably true.
If the husband cheats, then the conversation goes… “Well, calm down, don"t resort to divorce,” but…
If the wife is exposed to visit a host club frequently and even had s.e.x with a young man…
Then, she will face a barrage of criticism from society.
「 Humans always have s.e.xual desire. And in men who were born in n.o.bility, how do you resolve that?
She asks Jii-chan.
「 In the case of the men in the head house, most families send over a mistress to ease up the male"s l.u.s.t when he reaches p.u.b.erty. Seeking from daughters of the subordinates who served for generations 」
And letting that woman become his s.e.x partner?
「 If left alone, the man can have an unfavorable lover after all 」
Women coming after them to make a child of n.o.bility.
Well, it"s the evil adults sending girls to the young man.
「 There was one when I was at this boy"s age 」
Jii-chan looked at me and said.
「 She was young, beautiful, and is loyal to her master. She took all of my l.u.s.t when I was young. I was able to stray away from seduction, thanks to her. At that time, Kuromori"s brothel has become the social gathering spot for the big shots. Though I"m the next head of Kouzuki house, I was still too young to enter. Right, I think I was at the age where I graduated from university when I entered. When I was handling a few projects myself, my father finally let me enter the Kuromori tower 」
In short, Jii-chan, during his student days, had s.e.x with the va.s.sal"s daughter.
「 And where is she now? 」
I asked. Jii-chan…
「 She"s still alive. Staying in this mansion 」
Huh?
「 I feel sorry for her, but since she was the mistress, she couldn"t bear a child. Therefore, I had her serve me for the rest of her life. She"s also been taking care of Misuzu and Ruriko 」
「 So what do you think about changing someone else"s life like that? 」
Kyouko-san asks.
「 Nothing in particular. That was her fate 」
「 That woman is sacrificed as a tool to take care of your s.e.xual needs, and yet, you only say that it"s her fate? 」
Jii-chan.
「 If you"re going to say that, then it"s also my fate to become the head of Kouzuki house as I was born the eldest son. When I was 15, there were three girls brought to me, and I was told, “You must pick one” So, I chose. I"m the one who made a choice, but I had to choose one, regardless of my thoughts. I didn"t have the option either 」
Jii-chan"s parents and relatives make a choice.
No, the heir before Jii-chan, and the person before, they"ve gone through that.
「 Furthermore, I know well whose va.s.sal"s daughter is the girl I chose. The daughters themselves show up in the main house since childhood. I had to choose one of them as the mistress, and I must never look at other girls. In fact, I share the same bed with n.o.body but the mistress from my student days until marriage 」
Jii-chan said.
「 It was a great practice. Soon after that, I lived a married life with the wife coming from another n.o.bility. The mistress taught me how to live together with women, how do they think, what makes them angry, what I shouldn"t do, everything 」
「 Oh my, that"s something unheard of from the famous stud, Kouzuki s.h.i.+getaka 」
Kyouko-san laughs.
「 I chase after women to socialize with men back in Showa. That"s the reason why they have to see me as a lively man 」
「 That"s what you were doing at first, but you got addicted to it, didn"t you? 」
「 When I was past my 40"s, my wife nor mistress can"t keep me company anymore. Women"s s.e.xual desire declines, but men don"t. I wanted to have s.e.x with women more, so, well, you know the rest 」
Jii-chan gives an explanation while showing a pained look.
「 Oh well. I would feel sorry if I continue to torment an old man"s past. However 」
Kyouko-san glared at Jii-chan.
「 Do they still let a young mistress deal with a young heir"s s.e.xual desire even now? 」
「 Perhaps. Kouzuki clan has none but daughters, but for n.o.bility with young heirs… 」
「 Giving such warm care on men, and yet the girls are neglected, aren"t they? Putting them in a zoo called “prestigious school” taught to not talk to anyone with a lower status, to ignore them when they try to strike a conversation, and holding off their s.e.xual desire until they become a bride of another n.o.bility 」
That"s…
「 I knew that Misuzu had an intense l.u.s.t since she was a child, so I asked Nagiskun to deal with it through h.o.m.os.e.xuality 」
「 But, Ruriko and Yos.h.i.+ko-san wasn"t taught any s.e.xual knowledge 」
I speak my thoughts.
「 Indeed. That was surely oppression 」
Jii-chan admits.
「 You see, I can"t stomach the idea that the boys can have a daughter of a va.s.sal to ease up his l.u.s.t, and yet, the girls need to suppress it 」
Kyouko-san said.
「 If the son and heir have to hold back, then I get it. But why is it that it"s just the girls treated like sweet angels? They"re also living beings 」
「 Hmm, you"re right. Allow me to ponder on that idea next time. I cannot do anything about it alone 」
It"s for the whole n.o.bility, so Jii-chan can"t decide the answer himself.
I mean…
They won"t allow the young ladies to have a guy, just like how boys have their mistress.
Men"s and women"s l.u.s.t is different.
I"m a guy, so I want to have s.e.x every day, but…
Women don"t need to do it every day to ease up their spirits.
Although, there"s a day in a month where they want to have s.e.x like crazy.
At times like that, I gladly keep them company.
Furthermore, Shou-neechan and Rei-chan, those who are usually stiff and tense, become too disheveled.
「 Well, I don"t really care, it has nothing to do with me 」
Kyouko-san changed her att.i.tude.
Then, she looked at me.
「 Do you get it? They"re called upper-cla.s.s, and n.o.bility, but what they are is just a minority of nearly extinct people. They possess some odd and unique cultures and customs. It has rarity value, so you might want to keep it safe, but, well, that"s for you to judge. Although, You don"t belong to their group, so you don"t have to follow the customs and culture of this old man 」
That"s right, I"m no n.o.bility.
「 You made Misuzu, and Ruriko your woman, and it"s their decision to live together with you, so, don"t get swept away by the n.o.bility"s society 」
Yeah.
She"s right.
I should be aware of what kind of rules and structure they have, but…
I cannot let the n.o.bility crush me down.
「 Old man, you too, you should keep it in moderation or your granddaughters will escape with this boy. Going somewhere unrelated to n.o.bility and Kouzuki house 」
Kyouko-san told Jii-chan.
「 What"s fascinating about him is his fair sense of values, right? He treats a daughter of n.o.bility, and a daughter of a poor person equally, doesn"t he? I"d prefer to see that you don"t break that good part in him 」
Kyouko-san speaks in displeasure.
「 Why go that far? 」
Jii-chan asks Kyouko-san.
「 Well, I"m the subst.i.tute father of Kuromori house. If I don"t voice my complaints, who would? His big sis, Minaho, can"t even make complaints with you directly 」
Kyouko-san.
「 Not a subst.i.tute mother, but a father? 」
「 Right. Ain"t that more fun? 」
Kyouko-san laughs.
「 With that said, treat my family with care. Old man…Oh, by the way, Minaho 」
Kyouko-san looks at Minaho-neesan.
「 You know, just “beautiful onee-san” will do Have you ever heard someone called “beautiful and young”? 」
I knew it.
She was listening to our conversation earlier.
「 If she"s called beautiful, then it"s natural that she"s also young, isn"t it? I mean, are you saying that I don"t look youthful at all? 」
「 Not really 」
「 Where"s the “sorry?” 」
「 Sorry, Kyouko-san 」
Minaho-neesan bowed her head.
「 Too soft 」
「 Sorry! Kyouko-oneesan! 」
「 Well done 」
Oh, to Minaho-neesan…
Kyouko-san is just like Minaho-neesan to me.
She"s the elder of the family.
And Kyouko-san dotes on Minaho-neesan like a little sister.
「 Well then, Cordelia and I will be excusing ourselves now. Kyouko Messer has to be away from the mansion before you could send off your young ladies, right? 」
There are no adult bodyguards in the party grounds…
The people outside don"t know that Kyouko Messer"s in here.
However, once the party ends and the young ladies are sent home, they will talk about seeing me, Rei-chan, and Kyouko Messer"s intrusion.
The young ladies think that Kyouko Messer"s nothing but the bad guy role in Rei-chan"s show, but…
The professionals know her as the top bra.s.s of the international crime syndicate, Malandro.
Naturally, they"ll be cautious.
Therefore, it"s necessary to release information that Kyouko Messer"s already gone before we reach the time for the young ladies to return home.
「 Anyway, I take the job. We"re going to Kansai right now 」
Kansai?
「 Geez, Mafia"s always so trivial, no matter what country they come from. They"re a waste of people, time, and money, all for what? For pestering people? 」
「 Pestering? 」
I asked.
「 That"s right. Their objective for sending in a spy today was for hara.s.sment. If not, they will not use some disposable, like that girl 」
That girl. Tendou Otome?
「 Kansai Yakuza"s sending a message that they can send in spies close to the young ladies, just like her 」
Minaho-neesan said.
「 And that kind of hara.s.sment is what shows that they"re weak 」
Kyouko-san replied.
「 They"re not a monolith group anyway. Their opinion inside is all over the place, unfocused that they"re stalling. And so, we"re not even going with hara.s.sments and just attack 」
「 What does that mean? 」
I don"t get it.
「 That means that the spy just now was a sacrificial p.a.w.n. It"s meaningless to send someone like her alone in the main mansion of Kouzuki house, and furthermore, a place and time where the aces of Kouzuki SS are gathered. Also, these scary men are in here 」
Kyouko-san looks at Ootoku-san and Choumoto-san behind Jii-chan.
Yeah, it"s a party for the young ladies of n.o.bility, and each one of them has their bodyguards.
Rei-chan and Shou-neechan are present.
To top all that, Jii-chan"s at home with his two strongest personal bodyguards.
「 Their aim is simple, it"s to mess up the party sponsored by Kouzuki house to offend the other n.o.bility. It"s their plan to have the spy captured from the beginning 」
Kyouko-san said.
「 And the enemy knows the Miko power. Therefore, the spy doesn"t know anything unnecessary, and is most likely filled in with false information 」
If Miko power is used to seek into Tendou Otome"s thoughts…
Then, all the information gathered will be only fake.
「 Then, once we gather the evidence, it will take time to a.n.a.lyze it. Using that opportunity, the Yakuza will use their next move 」
I see.
Wreck the party, stain the reputation of Kouzuki house, and use false information to buy time.
「 Therefore, we"re ignoring the interrogation and just go for the offensive 」
Tendou Otome"s interrogation will only take time.
「 But, she did use Qi skill, didn"t she? Are they really just going to send someone with her talent as a sacrificial p.a.w.n? 」
I asked. Kyouko-san;
「 Not thinking the worth of the piece and shooting it up like that is the proof that they"re panicking and is split up 」
Yeah, if the inside is quarreling, then they can"t pick the right person in the right place.
They"re even forced to use someone with skill as a sacrificial p.a.w.n.
「 As for that girl, Tendou Otome, do you want her, Kyouko-san? I mean after everything"s done 」
Minaho-neesan asks Kyouko-san.
「 I don"t want her 」
Kyouko-san replied immediately.
「 Is that so? I thought that her type would be more suited for Kyouko-san"s organization than Kouzuki SS 」
She"s a daughter raised in the Yakuza society after all.
I mean, Minaho-neesan"s already starting to think about what to do with Tendou Otome.
Oh right, she"s registered in the a.n.a.lysis team of Kouzuki SS.
「 Personality-wise, she"s closer to us, but she"s useless. The shrine maidens have her in control, right? 」
Tsukiko used her power to order to have Tendou Otome obey her.
「 I don"t want to risk hiring someone who might double-cross me unexpectedly 」
Kyouko-san said.
「 No, well, it"s Tsukiko. I don"t think she"ll order her to give trouble to Kyouko-san 」
I said. Kyouko-san.
「 Well, that"s only because the shrine maidens all belong to you, don"t they? The other girl also can grasp minds 」
「 I mean, there"s no need to worry 」
「 Only for as long as you"re alive! 」
Kyouko-san said.
「 If you were to die for some reason right now, I don"t know what your women will do 」
Huh?
「 Some of them might do something outrageous out of despair. 」 Right, Minaho? 」
Minaho-neesan…
「 Right. If you were to die right now, I don"t know what I might do. I might take all the students in the school along and commit suicide 」
「 No, wait 」
「 Isn"t Nei going to do the same? Her extremely unbalanced heart has finally calmed down thanks to you 」
Kyouko-san said.
「 Misuzu and Ruriko too. If you were to die now, I can"t imagine what they could do 」
J-Jii-chan.
「 The Takakura shrine maidens too. To them, you"re an exceptional existence. Therefore, they"ll do anything for you. 」 No matter what it is 」
Well, yeah.
I think so too.
「 Therefore, be sure to treasure your life. Everyone"s relying on you now. Don"t force yourself too hard. You don"t have to persevere too hard. What"s most necessary is to stay healthy 」
Kyouko-san smiled.
「 This young, beautiful, and reliable Kyouko-san says so, so don"t forget it, okay? 」
◇ ◇ ◇
「 That"s amazing of you 」
Jii-chan said after Kyouko-san, and Miss Cordelia left.
「 To think that Kyouko Messer"s worrying for a man 」
「 That just shows his splendor 」
Katsuko-nee speaks.
She didn"t join up the conversation when Kyouko-san was in here.
Well, Kyouko-san and Katsuko-nee have this subtle sense of distance.
Jii-chan was Katsuko-nee"s past customer, and so they can talk intimately, but…
「 It"s only women around his daily life, but he"s okay with it. And when everyone takes a bath together, he only sees it as natural 」
「 Umu, and he was calm in a party with n.o.body but women 」
「 He"s the type that floats in the atmosphere. He never a.s.serts himself, and he never clashes with anyone. He accepts people for who they are, and so he always fits 」
That"s not it.
I just…
I"ve been forced to hide my presence inside my house since I was young.
My mother ignores me.
Therefore, I just am good at having no presence.
「 Now then, since Kyouko-kun and her group are doing their job, let"s head for the other one 」
Jii-chan looks at the Kurama sisters in the corner of the room.
「 Do you know why I let you sit in while we converse with Kyouko Messer? 」
「 N-No… 」
Misato-san shakes her head.
Arisu-san…
「 I-Is it because we"re no longer daughters of n.o.bility and can"t come back home anymore? 」
Jii-chan smiles.
「 Correct. Currently, as you can see, you have no father nor family to talk to 」
Then, he looked at Minaho-neesan.
「 It looks like the younger has some promise 」
「 However, she"s still 13. Kuromori will no longer use young girls 」
Minaho-neesan herself was 12 when she became a prost.i.tute.
「 Hmm. You"re right…although, the sister also has some allure, so she will sell enough 」
「 Yes. Some prefer timid girls like her 」
Minaho-neesan replies.
I knew it, Kurama Misato-san will become a prost.i.tute.
「 Aaaah 」
「 Onee-sama, it"s okay. Arisu"s here with you 」
The little sister embraces her elder sister firmly.
「 Well, they are for later. We have something else we need to finish up before that 」
Jii-chan looks at me.
「 Bring Mizus.h.i.+ma"s daughter here 」
Mizus.h.i.+ma Karen-san?
「 Kyouko-kun started moving, so I have to unsettle Mizus.h.i.+ma house 」
Mizus.h.i.+ma holdings" president…
He sent a Kansai Yakuza"s spy, Tendou Otome, as his granddaughter"s bodyguard for today"s party.
「 Besides, doesn"t Misuzu want that girl? 」
Jii-chan smiles.
「 Then I have to finish the discussion before Misuzu sends them home from the party 」
Jii-chan, he intends to seek approval from the Mizus.h.i.+ma house…
-Because Misuzu wants to keep Karen-san as a pet?