Chapter 39

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Novel updates has fixed the chapter number, but I don’t think you guys got the update for the previous chapter, so be sure to read that before.

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“This place seems expensive, are you okay with this?”

As Ritsu gets dragged by the flow and arrives at a cafe, he sits on a slightly elevated chair and asks Sayuki.

“That is, well, this is my gratitude. Please order whatever you like.”

Sayuki avoided Ritsu’s eyes while saying that.

“Is that so? Thank you very much.”

Ritsu’s eyes shone at the sanctuary restaurant menu which he was seeing for the first time.

Sayuki seemed somewhat restless, and waited for Ritsu to pick something.

“I’ll have this.”

After thinking for a bit, he spoke while looking towards Sayuki.

“Yes, then I’ll have the same.”

Softening the atmosphere a bit, Sayuki rang the bell to call the waiter, and placed their order.

“”……….””

An awkward silence flowed in-between them.

“Um, once again, thank you for saving me back there.”

Sayuki faced Ritsu firmly as she said that.

“No, it’s not like I could leave you there to die, so I just did the obvious thing.”

He shoved water down his throat after saying that.

“Firstly, I wanted to speak about why I was there at the hospital that night. I also wanted to tell you why I was curious about you. I would like to hear your story after that, if that’s alright with you.”

Sayuki confirmed with Ritsu.

“It’s not like I have any plans, so I don’t mind listening.”

“Firstly, I am from the Reibai school, and am a swordsman holding the rank of Baishi. I’m on something like a study-abroad plan, to learn the Magic Operation Technology used in Yozakura style medical care. My patrolling the hospital grounds is a part of that.

The hospital is the acme of all important organizations under the Yozakura school, open to the public. Even if it is a benefactor, I have a duty to report that person if they’re suspicious.

I did submit a report that day, but now I have to grasp as many facts as possible. If anything were to happen because I missed something, the chances of a crack forming in the two factions’ relationship is not zero.

Thinking of the current situation, you might have an idea now of what this means. That is a part of the reason.”

(I have no clue. I wonder if I should have listened more to Igarashi-san before stepping out… but if I told her I knew nothing that would be even worse. Is it alright for me to say it?)

Ritsu pondered with a difficult expression.

“Also, I suspect that you are a mercenary.”

“I see, I get it. I’ll talk.”

(I’m being left behind in this conversation. It might be better to just say it. Otherwise I feel like I’m dragged into something even more troublesome.)

At the end of his wits, Ritsu interupted Sayuki and spoke.

“I am a member of the Yozakura school, and my rank is Ousei.”

Ritsu began by showing his card.

◇

Sayuki’s face gradually turned pale over the duration of the conversation, and was completely depressed by the end of it.

“I apologize profusely.”

Sayuki stood up from her chair and kneeled on the floor to express her gratitude.

“Please. To begin with, it was my fault that I pushed my responsibility on to Misumi-san. More importantly, like I’ve said before, my knowledge about the sanctuary’s workings are still lacking so I didn’t understand what you meant earlier. Could you explain in more detail?”

Ritsu asked Sayuki, as he urged her to take her seat.

“Very well, let me explain. To begin with, there are three factions in the Yozakura school – radicals, conservatives, and the neutral faction, all of which are fighting for dominance behind shadows.

The purpose of the radicals is expansion of their faction. Ultimately, they hope to become a power on the same level as the Central House.

The conservatives faction still respects the will of the Oushuu and puts the highest priority on maintaining the status-quo.

The neutral faction comprises of people who feel some dissatisfaction with the current system, but have decided to simply wait and watch.

The current objective of the radicals is to absorb the Reiume style. As part of that measure, my training dispatch was decided.

I am the daughter of the head of the Reiume style. The aim is to wait for my engagement with a Yozakura official, or my failure. As daughter of the current head, they want to use either the engagement or the failure as an excuse to enact the absorption.

There is also a faction of people who want Yozakura to absorb us. They’re those who have a relative in need of Yozakura clan’s medical technology.

This training dispatch was decided on the mutual interest of both those parties.”

“Interest?”

Ritsu had a doubt in Sayuki’s explanation, and asked her.

“The purpose of the radical faction of Yozakura is to invite and take-in important people of Reiume. The purpose of the pro-Yozakura faction on Reiume side is to acquire medical technology.

In exchange for sending their important members, the pro-Yozakura group asked them to be trained at the hospital.”

“I see…”

“I was wary only because of people who wanted to see me fail. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Sayuki once again apologized to Ritsu.

“No, thank you for telling me all this. So, what do you mean specifically by failure?”

“If someone saw us interacting on the rooftop, and then you attacked the hospital and stole its important documents, then I would have been suspected due to our connection. I was staying aware while thinking of a hand like that.”

“Is that even possible?”

Ritsu asked while creasing his forehead.

“Yes, of course. Framing, and getting framed have always been ongoing between the four great factions. Each faction hires excellent mercenaries in order to put the works on other factions.”

Sayuki said as if it was a daily occurrence.

(Let’s get along as fellow humans…)

Ritsu thought while frowning even further.

“That said, my existence isn’t even of that much importance in the Reiume. The people of Yozakura greatly misjudge my value.

Reiume would severe all ties with me if it suited them, and that would be that. In fact, there are some who gladly wish to send me over to Yozakura.”

“So you have to protect yourself, huh?”

“Yes. Ironically, the labyrinth is the least likely place to get entangled, and is safe. Getting stronger also means hitting two birds with one stone, which is why I was in there.”

“I see. But you were close to dying though?”

Ritsu questioned her with a nasty grin.

“That is, well the level band of the labyrinth was clearly off compared to usual… It’s impossible for a lv.69 to appear on that level.”

Sayuki murmured, while making a bitter expression.

“Level band?”

“Yes. I have decided to report this to the Labyrinth Administration later.”

The moment Sayuki looked at Ritsu and said that, the sliding door in their room opened, and food was brought in.

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Sorry for late upload. Getting extra busy at work these few weeks.

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