Onmyoji, a nobleman in Heian-kyo

Page 11

Only those with that status can have a means of transportation, so they don't have to walk every day.

Before, when I muttered about wanting an oxcart, I was just complaining to myself.

Wait, something's not right.

Kyosuke Kosaka frowned in thought, then suddenly realized another problem.

If you keep your identity so well hidden, wouldn't it be easy for it to be exposed just to buy an oxcart?

After much deliberation, Kyosuke Kousaka finally gave up.

Feeling somewhat depressed, he ate two cans of braised pork in the afternoon.

On the same day, an epidemic broke out in Kyoto, even more severely than before, killing several people and causing serious damage to major means of transportation and farming, such as cattle and horses.

Day 23 of crossing

Sensing that something was wrong, Kyosuke Kousaka didn't go out again.

It started raining heavily before noon, and it was pitch black both inside and outside.

Kousaka Kyosuke, with candlelight for illumination, had Yukinoshita, Miku, and Satsuki sit together in a Japanese-style room with a panoramic view of the garden.

Kousaka Kyosuke didn't speak, but simply lay on his side gazing at the courtyard against the backdrop of the rain.

The three girls remained silent.

Because of their low social status, they had no right to speak.

After a long while, Kyosuke Kosaka finally spoke.

"You two said you wanted to find your relatives, have you taken any action yet?"

Miku and Satsuki gazed at each other.

A second or two later, Miku spoke up: "...Not for now."

"That's true. There are all sorts of dangers going out these days, so it's better to stay quiet."

“…” Miku remained silent.

She didn't know how to start a conversation.

It feels more appropriate not to answer than to answer.

"I happen to be free. Give me a drop of blood, and I'll test it for you."

"Thank you very much, Kyosuke-sama," Miku said quickly.

After speaking, he bit his index finger with his tiger teeth.

“Miku…” May stared wide-eyed and shrank back as she watched Miku’s actions.

"It's so fast."

Kyosuke Kousaka sighed, slowly sat up, and raised his hand to draw the bright red blood from Miku's finger in front of him.

He then unleashed a small ray of mysterious light that enveloped Miku's fingers, and was quite pleased to see the wound heal instantly.

Suddenly, in the flickering candlelight, he noticed a pair of silky smooth legs beneath the snow-covered skirt beside him.

In a daze, I also saw a bright and beautiful peony bud quietly blooming.

Kyosuke Kousaka, whose senses were incredibly sharp, was momentarily stunned, a jolt of electricity flashing through his mind that he had never felt before.

Everything happened at the last second.

Kousaka Kyosuke, who had instantly regained his composure, lowered his eyes and began to calculate.

The three girls stared intently at it.

About five minutes later, Kyosuke Kousaka looked at Miku.

"You have a relative in your destiny."

"—No, there are others."

"Don't question your abilities. The trajectory of fate has shown that you have a sister, and that's a fact."

“We have other relatives…”

"I haven't found it. It's probably in another world."

"Then, Lord Kyosuke, could you tell me the whereabouts of another relative?"

"I think he's working in some noble manor or estate in Ukyo. I'll take a look when I have time."

“Thank you, Kyosuke-sama…” Miku bowed her head.

For some reason, Kyosuke Kousaka, who was facing Miku, felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him.

In the flickering candlelight, he could clearly see the outline of the towering, beautiful peak.

In the dimly lit space where light and shadow intertwine, everything seems to become ambiguous.

"Do you want it?" Kousaka Kyosuke, sitting comfortably cross-legged, rested his chin on his hand and looked at Yukinoshita again.

Yukinoshita nodded quickly, then followed Miku's actions.

After treating her, Kyosuke Kosaka began to deduce the truth again.

He gave a reply very quickly.

"What relatives? None."

Yukino bowed her head in thanks, secretly relieved.

She often worried about whether her family members would come into this world, but now she can finally relax.

Although she always believed that her family members would be better off than her because of their own abilities...

Similarly, a subtle curiosity arose within her about Kyosuke Kousaka: "Does he know something?"

Drizzling~

It rained all day, and the girls slept much more peacefully than usual that night.

Day 24 of crossing

The heavy rain was still falling.

Water continuously flows from higher to lower levels in the courtyard.

Kyosuke Kosaka sat down in the Japanese-style room with the three girls again.

Since it was still quite bright, the three girls looked at the book provided by Kousaka Kyosuke with the help of candlelight.

Kyosuke Kosaka, meanwhile, was lost in thought, processing the books in the library.

Yukinoshita glanced at him furtively. What a strange person…

Miku also secretly glanced at him; he was such a nice guy.

May also secretly peeked at Kousaka Kyosuke and gave the same evaluation as her older sister Miku.

And at the same time.

In Ukyo.

The young man with dead fish eyes wore simple armor and gritted his teeth as he stood in the pouring rain.

His gaze was fixed on the countless people who were swept away by the raging floodwaters while trying to stop the overflowing flood.

"Ah Ba! Hurry up! Aren't you going to help drive away those bastards and continue the disaster relief!"

"I can't let those people from the Bureau of Investigation steal the credit! I must make sure Lord Lai Kang sees my contribution."

"For the glory of the Genji, ha ha ha..."

Soldiers laughed loudly and vigorously cracked their whips to drive the men carrying sandbags.

The flag with the gentian flower pattern still fluttered in the wind despite the heavy rain.

11. Hachiman Hikigaya / Heavy Rain / Heian-kyo

Hachiman Hikigaya was terrified.

Equipped with simple armor, he stood in the pouring rain, looking at everything before him, as if he were still dreaming!

Against the backdrop of a desolate landscape and torrential rain.

The guards looked down at them and lashed out with their whips without mercy!

The filthy, lowly people, like cattle and horses, carried huge sandbags on their backs and drove towards the vast, swampy land that resembled a wild, monstrous beast...

Every minute and every second, people are being devoured by it.

Life is as free as money!

Hikigaya, who thought he would get used to this strange world after coming with his sister, is on the verge of a breakdown.

Is human life really unimportant?

"Ah-hachi! Hurry up!" Saemon Nagatoshi scolded impatiently.

If it weren't for Lord Lai Guang's instructions, he would have kicked this commoner who had rashly come to the Outer Guard Prefecture aside long ago.